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County approves additional funding request for jail peer-support program
Summary
A community reentry/peer-support program requested $57,236 from county restricted funds to sustain five peers in the jail and one for released individuals; commissioners moved to provide the requested assistance after city and other contributions were discussed.
Chris Ehrhardt, program director of Blytheville County IRX, told the Blackford County Commissioners at their Aug. 6 budget workshop that his program is seeking county help to cover a shortfall in a contract for jail-based peer support.
Ehrhardt said the program originally sought $107,236.18 and that the city had committed $50,000 from the county’s restricted opioid fund. "So now I'm back, and we're asking for $57,236," Ehrhardt said. He described the funding as a one-year request to support five peer positions inside the jail and one peer dedicated to individuals as they are released.
County staff supplied the council with fund-balance figures during the discussion. One staff member told the board that state records show $344,493.48 in the county’s restricted funds and $74,708.66 in unrestricted funds, and said the Rx program meets the statutory requirements for use of restricted opioid money.
Commissioners discussed possible modifications to the motion to allow flexibility if other partners (the city or mayor) contribute. Commissioner discussion included offering the requested amount with the understanding partners could reduce the county’s share later. A motion to provide the requested funding amount was made and later recorded as passing by voice vote; the board thanked Ehrhardt after the action.
The commissioners did not attach additional conditions in the workshop record other than the plan to continue quarterly reporting: Ehrhardt said he would provide quarterly updates to both the city and county. He also said the program expects to return to request funding in future years.
The transcript does not record a roll-call vote with individual yes/no tallies for this item; the board recorded the motion and moved on to the next agenda item after thanking Ehrhardt.
Funding details and next steps: the program’s original request (as Ehrhardt stated it) was for $107,236.18; the city put $50,000 on the table from the restricted opioid fund; Ehrhardt requested $57,236 from the county to make up the difference. County staff cited the restricted fund balance ($344,493.48) and the amount in unrestricted funds ($74,708.66) while noting the program meets statutory criteria for the restricted funds.
