Portage County committee approves in-house justice-program staffing after provider ends contract

The Portage County Finance Committee on July 7 approved a resolution authorizing three full-time equivalent and two part-time positions for the county's justice program after the county's contracted provider terminated its agreement, staff said.

County staff said the provider gave the county 90 daysnotice and the contract terminates Sept. 12, 2025; staff compared full-year contract costs with in-house staffing and concluded the costs are comparable, and that a budget amendment will be required in 2025 to manage the transition. "So, really, they felt that we don't the county doesn't align with we don't align with them, and they don't align with us anymore. So they gave us our 90 days, and September 12 will be the end of the contract," said Courtney, a county staff member overseeing the transition.

Courtney said the county and judges support bringing the program in-house to allow Portage County, the judges and community partners to set policies and program design rather than relying on an outside contractor. A letter of support from Judge Baker was included in committee materials, staff said.

Finance staff told the committee they modeled a full year of contract cost against a full year of employment costs to inform the decision. For 2025 the county expects a mixed year with some contracted services and new positions in place; staff said they will prepare a budget amendment to reflect both expenses during the transition.

Committee members expressed support for the change as an opportunity to redesign program operations and exercise local control. The motion to approve the resolution passed on a voice vote; the motion was seconded by Louisa Moreci and carried unanimously by voice vote, as recorded by the clerk.

Next steps described by staff include program and policy review meetings with judges and Justice Coalition partners and preparing the 2025 budget amendment to document the transition costs.