Commission approves $11.2 million to fund juvenile detention transition from sheriff to county corrections

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners on July 30 approved a resolution amending the FY 2026 operating budget to allocate $11,226,461 to support transition of the Youth Justice and Education Center (YJEC) from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to the county Division of Corrections.

The measure, intended to cover staff, training and operational costs associated with the transfer, passed after extended committee discussion. The clerk recorded aye votes from Commissioners Charlie Caswell Jr., Erica Sugarman, David C. Bradford Jr., Britney Thornton, Brandon Morrison, Henry Brooks, Vice Chair Avant and Chairman Michael Whaley; Commissioners Amber Mills and Brandon Ford abstained. The tally reported 8 ayes and 2 abstentions.

Juvenile court officials and county administrators said the funding is needed to avoid a management gap on Oct. 1, the date some proponents said state law would require revised custody arrangements if a local management agreement were not in place. Juvenile Court Judge Tarek Sugarman (as identified in the meeting transcript) described prior transfers of responsibility and warned the commission that without the appropriation the county could face an emergency need to hire outside contractors or be forced to absorb responsibilities without adequate staff and resources.

Judge Sugarman told commissioners that responsibilities for juvenile detention had moved during a 2015 transition and that the county had previously provided related staff and operating dollars; he said the current shift requires additional appropriation to the Division of Corrections to recruit, train and staff the facility. He referenced recent state legislation (Senate Bill 718 / House Bill 797 in the transcript) that affects management responsibilities and cited an existing memorandum of understanding between county entities.

Chief Administrative Officer Harold Collins said the county had included funding for the transition in earlier budget drafts but the commission removed the line during final budget actions; the administration said it put the request back because training and staffing deadlines make the October transition date time‑sensitive. Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Alicia Lindsey and Corrections Director Anthony Alexander were present; Lindsey said the sheriff’s office lacks sufficient funding after the budget change to continue full operations at YJEC beyond Sept. 30 while corrections ramps up.

Commissioners pressed finance officials for precise fund‑balance numbers and cautioned about drawing down reserves. Deputy CFO Michael Thompson said the county’s FY24 fund balance was roughly $108 million and that the county’s policy target is 20–30% (preferably 25%), but final year‑end figures were still being closed. Thompson said the county had adopted a FY26 budget without a planned use of fund balance, which rating agencies prefer, but acknowledged the pending appropriation would reduce reserves; finance staff agreed to provide a more detailed fund‑balance impact in advance of the next meeting.

Supporters argued that failing to fund the transition could create a public‑safety and legal risk and that the YJEC needs stable management. Some commissioners urged the county to identify unused appropriations or other revenue to offset the cost. Opponents and those seeking more detail pressed for an accounting of funds transferred in earlier years when juvenile management changed and for clarity about how much of the sheriff’s prior budget remains available.

With approval, county administration will complete hiring and training plans for corrections staff and execute the agreed transition steps; county finance said it would provide updated fund‑balance projections and implementation details at a forthcoming meeting.