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Court Innovation Fund drug‑testing cost to Okeechobee County rises to $80,000 under existing contract
Summary
Staff told commissioners that the county's share of drug testing under the Court Innovation Fund will increase to $80,000 in the coming fiscal year to cover the program's full testing cost; county contract remains in place for two more years.
Budget staff informed commissioners that the Court Innovation Fund's operating request doubled in the packet because the county must now absorb a larger share of drug‑testing costs for local drug court defendants.
"Last year, Frank came and talked to us and said that they've been absorbing Okeechobee County's cost for the drug testing ... fiscal year 25 was 40,000 and but then he needed to recoup the whole cost from Okeechobee County," budget staff said. Staff said the county has a contract for the service and two years remain on that contract; as a result, the operating request for the Court Innovation Fund is shown at $80,000 for the upcoming year.
Commissioners discussed the cost in relation to jail daily costs and treatment outcomes. One commissioner framed the decision as a tradeoff, noting that jail costs run roughly $80 per day and suggested that court‑based services aim to reduce incarceration costs and improve outcomes.
No formal change was made to the adopted contract during the workshop. Staff said the county will continue to fund the Court Innovation service under the existing agreement and will reflect the $80,000 operating cost in the upcoming budget.
