Sheriff requests interim psychiatric coverage for jail; board debates sustainability of CCP allocations

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors on March 25 approved a short-term amendment to its existing jail medical contract to secure interim psychiatric services after county behavioral-health staffing left a coverage gap, and then engaged in a lengthy debate about the county's use of Community Corrections Partnership (AB 109) funds for ongoing positions and programs.

Interim jail psychiatric coverage: Sheriff Taylor told the board the county is in the middle of a competitive procurement for long-term jail medical services but faces an immediate gap in psychiatric coverage needed for safety-cell assessments and Title 15 compliance. The board approved an amendment to the county's contract with CFMG/Wellpath for interim psychiatric services, with staff estimating the fiscal-year cost at roughly $48,000. "This is a stopgap," the sheriff said, adding that the county must provide timely psychiatric assessments when people are placed in safety cells.

Why it matters: Title 15 regulations require medical and psychiatric attention for people in safety cells and other high‑acuity situations. Board members and the sheriff said in-person crisis response is necessary for Title 15 compliance even as telehealth expands; county staff said telehealth options are evolving and will be part of future regulatory revisions.

Community Corrections Partnership debate: After the Wellpath item, the board considered a CCP-related budget amendment and expenditures for programs and positions intended to serve the realigned AB 109 population. Ashlyn (CCP chair) told the board that the CCP budget currently budgets more than the reliably available AB 109 revenue and that some prior practice had mixed probation-specific and CCP funds in a single trust account, which complicates long-term planning. "We have to find a way to pair down to what the revenue that's coming in," she said.

Board concerns: Several supervisors expressed concern about using one-time or limited-duration funds for ongoing personnel costs and recommended prioritizing core services. Supervisor Velasquez said one-time state or grant dollars should not be used to create permanent staffing obligations the county cannot sustain. "One-time monies are one-time money," Velasquez said in the discussion.

Accounting and next steps: CCP leadership said it will assemble bylaws and more transparent accounting to separate probation-specific funds, interest and CCP-specific monies. Staff suggested submitting a formal reimbursement proposal to the CCP executive committee for items the county believes should be reimbursed to the general fund or reallocated. Several supervisors asked staff to return with clearer, line-by-line accounting of what portions of proposed expenditures were ongoing salary commitments versus one-time program costs.

Vote and procedural note: The board approved the Wellpath amendment by roll call (5-0). The subsequent CCP budget discussion included a recorded roll call on a motion to approve CCP allocations; the transcript records mixed initial votes and procedural confusion in the room about the tally. Several supervisors then emphasized the need for improved accounting, for CCP bylaws and for staff to return with options to avoid relying on reserves for ongoing costs.

What to watch for next: Staff from behavioral health, the sheriff and CCP will return with clarified budgets, a recommended approach to segregate CCP and probation-specific funds and proposals for reimbursing the county general fund if appropriate. The sheriff and behavioral health also said they are pursuing a formal request-for-proposal process to select a long-term jail medical provider.