Bonner County accepts $233,750 CAC grant for Lily Brook Family Justice Center and approves use for staff salary supplements

Bonner County commissioners on Tuesday voted to accept $233,750 in unanticipated Idaho State Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) grant funds for the Lily Brook Family Justice Center and authorized using those funds to subsidize salary increases for several Lily Brook staff positions.

The action authorizes opening the county budget to receive the $233,750 award and applies CAC grant guidelines to spending. Commissioners approved both a resolution accepting the unanticipated revenue and a separate resolution authorizing the use of CAC funds to subsidize supplemental pay for Lily Brook staff.

The prosecutor’s office explained the CAC award is designated for victim services and described staff retention and compliance reasons for the proposed salary supplements. The county was told the award must be used according to CAC rules and that any unspent money would be returned to the state if not allocated. The prosecutor’s office representative said the salary adjustments “will be fully covered by the CAC grant award and will be considered supplemental pay and are contingent upon the availability of CAC grant funding.” The board was also told that if CAC funds are reduced or unavailable in a future year the supplemental pay will be discontinued and base salaries will revert to prior levels, meaning no ongoing obligation to the county general fund.

The memo presented to the board lists proposed increases including a $10,000 increase for the CAC director (noted as a 13.7% increase), $7,500 for an assistant director position (10.4%), and $5,500 for the CAC financial officer (8.5%). The memo said the CAC grant guidelines allow funds to be used to support staffing and organizational stability; it emphasized salary adjustments are a primary retention strategy for rural CACs. The presentation said forensic interviewer and victim-witness coordination roles were recommended for increases as retention measures; the memo supplied additional line-item amounts and rationale.

Commissioners asked whether accepting and using the grant would create any general-fund obligation in future years; the prosecutor’s office representative confirmed the supplemental pay is contingent on continued grant funding and would cease if CAC funds are not available. A public commenter asked the person at the podium to identify himself; he later identified himself as Nate Adams with the prosecutor’s office.

Votes at the meeting were recorded by roll call; the resolutions were approved.

The county will open the budget to receive the award and staff were directed to apply the funds in accordance with CAC rules and National Children’s Alliance guidance. The board did not authorize any permanent salary increases beyond the term of the grant.