Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Children Justice Center Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Children’s Justice Center seeks modest pay increase and county support for services
Summary
Teresa Wood of the Children’s Justice Center asked the commission to maintain county support and to approve modest increases (a 3% salary request and a county contribution equal to 5% of the director’s salary), said travel needs are lower this year, and described separate mental‑health grant funds that do not touch the CJC operating budget.
Teresa Wood, representing the Children’s Justice Center, presented the center’s budget request to the Beaver County Commission and asked for a modest 3% salary increase for staff. She said travel expenses will be slightly lower than in prior years because the usual out‑of‑state convention will not be attended this cycle, and that furniture for a remodeled section and contract increases for forensic interviewer support were included in the packet.
Wood stated that the mental‑health grant the center receives is separate from the CJC operating budget and that the county provides building-related in‑kind support (facility and some building payments). On county‑level support, she said the center’s request to the county remains "the same, 5% of my salary," which helps cover county duties and prevention efforts not funded by the state.
Commissioners asked practical questions about travel reimbursement, whether Garfield County contributes (Wood said Garfield provides $10,000 for the center’s rent), and whether the requested salary aligns with state director pay. Staff explained budget timing differences (state fiscal July–June versus county calendar) and noted requests are commonly revisited in December as budgets are refined.
Commissioners and staff discussed site improvements—landscaping, possible playground equipment, and scheduling work to align with broader facility construction—asking Wood to consult the friends board and report back with recommendations and cost estimates. Wood also raised acoustics/soundproofing concerns for interviews if county construction occurs nearby.
No formal county funding action was taken at the meeting; commissioners voiced support for the request and asked staff to follow up on cost details.
