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Missoula County Detention Facility requests additional kitchen FTE and $27,019 increase for contracted PA
Summary
Missoula County Detention Facility (MCDF) requested one additional kitchen FTE to reduce overtime and cover routine vacancies and a $27,019 increase to the contracted physician assistant (PA) line, citing retention and market pressures; staff also reported $282,000 in refunds recovered this fiscal year.
The Missoula County Detention Facility asked the Board of County Commissioners to approve an additional full-time-equivalent for the jail kitchen and to increase compensation for the contracted physician assistant (PA) by $27,019.
Cheryl, speaking for MCDF, said the kitchen has operated at skeleton staffing since opening and currently cannot cover vacations, holidays or sick leave without relying on overtime. Cheryl said a current vacancy equates to about 28 open shifts across the coming three months and that an additional FTE would bring staffing to a sustainable level.
On medical coverage, MCDF requested $27,019 to increase pay for the contracted PA (provided via WellPath). Cheryl said the PA, identified as Kelly, is on call around the clock, takes substantial workload and has provided continuity through vendor changes since 2019. Facility staff argued the increase is warranted to retain the provider and cited ongoing efforts to control off-site medical costs. Cheryl reported the county has obtained approximately $282,000 in refunds this fiscal year from outside medical or pharmacy billing recoveries, which staff said offsets external costs.
Discussion versus formal action: both items were presented as budget requests; commissioners did not take immediate appropriation votes in the recorded discussion. Staff said the PA contract and kitchen staffing requests are part of ongoing operational and contracting decisions.
Ending: MCDF staff asked the board to consider the staffing and contracted-provider increases during the budget process and noted ongoing efforts to reduce off-site medical costs and recoup funds from external providers.
