District 6 treatment program seeks reclassification, temporary contract pay and higher copier budget

District 6 treatment leaders presented budget requests to the Bannock County Board of Commissioners focused on staffing classifications, a temporary contract arrangement for a current employee, higher copier lease funding and conditional repayment of start-up funds.

Ashley Rinkerson, director of District 6 treatment, said the office is asking that position control number 104601, a treatment counselor slot, be regraded to grade 12, step 3 “to bring her up to where the other treatment counselors are.” She said the position had previously been paid at a lower grade and needs correction so pay matches similarly classified counselors.

Rinkerson described a second staffing request for position control 151001, a case management manager. The employee in that slot recently completed school and would qualify as a treatment counselor, Rinkerson said, but the individual will move to Indiana for two years. Rinkerson and Jason Dye described a plan to convert that employee to a contract position for two years if approved, with a proposed 20–30% increase in pay to cover the lack of benefits and employer taxes. Rinkerson said the current salary was about $53,623 and that the higher contract rate is intended to reflect contractor compensation.

Commission discussion focused on contractual details and oversight. One commissioner said, “We’ll have to see a contract,” and another emphasized they would not approve anything without reviewing contract language. Rinkerson said the work would continue to be treatment counseling and “the work is measurable.” She also said the employee intends to return after two years.

Rinkerson asked the commissioners to increase the department’s copier lease budget from $5,000 to $10,000 based on vendor bids; she said vendors have been contacted but a vendor has not been selected. She also explained that the department’s budget history appears blank on the current budget sheet because prior spending was recorded in a grant fund (282) before the program moved to an enterprise fund for FY25.

On startup funding, Rinkerson said District 6 previously used about $90,000 from drug-court trust funds for startup cash flow. The department is proposing that, if revenue projections and approvals by Christie and Jason allow, the program could repay $45,000 this year and $45,000 next year back into the drug-court trust. Rinkerson said repayment would occur only if revenue projections are met and county staff approve redistribution.

Administrative costs tied to the enterprise fund were described as an estimated 5% auditing charge; Rinkerson said the $5,000 figure is an estimate subject to budget size.

Commissioners asked about staffing levels and vacancies. Rinkerson said the program currently has one open counselor position and that if the contract conversion is not approved the office would be down an additional counselor. She said revenue performance affects staffing and that contract staffing could help maintain revenue flow.

The commissioners did not take formal action during the presentation; they requested contract documentation for review if the commission were to consider approval of the temporary contractor arrangement.