BOSIA director outlines plan to expand program into Hancock County with outside funding; Shelby County participation pending

Lauren Rynearson, director of BOSIA (program name as reported in the transcript), briefed the Johnson County Council about plans to expand the county’s BOSIA program into Hancock County next year and funding discussions with neighboring counties and hospitals.

Rynearson said Hancock County Judge Serk asked her to expand the program; Hancock Regional Hospital’s CEO has offered $25,000 to support start-up in Hancock. Rynearson said she has also asked Shelby County to increase its contribution from $10,000 annually to $25,000; if Shelby does not commit the additional funds, Rynearson said she could seek supplemental funding from Hancock Regional Hospital to cover the difference. She said that if partner counties cannot provide the additional funding, Johnson County would not expand on its own and would not increase local costs beyond its current obligations.

Rynearson told the council that if the program grows to require a county-funded staff position, the partner counties would need to share the cost; she emphasized the county would hire any position as a county employee and that partner counties would be expected to contribute to recurring salary costs.

Council members expressed support for the program’s expansion but were clear that Johnson County should not absorb additional recurring costs if other counties do not contribute. No formal appropriation or change in county staffing was proposed at the meeting; Rynearson said she would continue discussions with Shelby and Hancock counties and return with any formal requests.