Budget committee unfunds two proposed full‑time diversion positions, restores them as part‑time

Belknap County budget reviewers agreed to remove funding for two proposed full‑time case‑manager positions in the county’s diversion/restorative justice program and restore the previous part‑time lines, a change that reduces the program’s 2025 budget request by $48,663.

Program officials and commissioners debated retention, caseloads and alternatives before reaching consensus to revert the staffing change. The diversion director described steady turnover from historically part‑time roles, saying prospective hires leave for full‑time jobs with benefits and retirement. He told the committee that making two positions full time would add $48,663 (three quarters of a year in the 2025 budget) and that the two current part‑time employees were handling the existing workload after an earlier unfunded vacancy.

Supporters said full‑time roles would improve staff retention and program continuity; critics said the county is seeking budget reductions and suggested alternatives such as refilling the eliminated part‑time third case manager or tapping small grants. Committee members asked for specific caseload data and recidivism information; the director provided examples of recent referrals and case counts, saying one juvenile case manager had about 31 open juvenile cases and an adult case manager was carrying about 25 adult cases. He also said the program receives relatively small grant income—about $5,000 in the most recent grant—and that the program’s work increased after moving next to the district court, producing more walk‑in referrals.

After discussion the committee decided to “unfund the full time and then refund those positions back as they originally were as part time,” leaving the department’s overall budget lower than the proposed full‑time scenario and preserving payroll tax and benefits savings. Committee members also rejected adding an additional part‑time position at this time, saying it would offset the intended savings.

The committee asked staff to provide clearer, paper‑formatted packet data on caseloads, recidivism and town referral counts and to identify any grantable funding options that could offset personnel costs.

Implementation notes: the action is a budget line reallocation (unfund full time positions; restore part‑time lines). No formal roll‑call vote was recorded; the committee reached a consensus during the budget review meeting.