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Bonner County Accepts $233,750 CAC Grant for Lilybrook Family Justice Center to Subsidize Staff Pay
Summary
The Bonner County Board approved accepting a $233,750 FY2026 Children’s Advocacy Center grant for the Lilybrook Family Justice Center and authorized use of the funds to subsidize targeted salary increases to retain critical victim‑services staff, contingent on grant availability.
The Bonner County Board of Commissioners voted to accept a $233,750 FY2026 grant from the Idaho State Children’s Advocacy Center for the Lilybrook Family Justice Center and authorized the county to open its budget and allocate the funds for use under CAC guidelines.
County presenters told the board the award may be used to subsidize salary increases aimed at retaining staff who perform multiple critical roles. The memo presented to commissioners listed proposed supplements including $10,000 for the CAC director, $7,500 for an assistant director/forensic interviewer position and $5,500 for the CAC financial officer. Presenters said the increases are intended as supplemental pay and are contingent on availability of grant funds; if funds are reduced or unavailable, the supplemental pay would end and base salaries would revert.
Why it matters: The Lilybrook Family Justice Center provides victim‑services work the county and prosecutors rely on for forensic interviews, victim coordination and related functions. Grant funds are restricted by CAC rules and must be accepted and formally budgeted before they can be spent. County staff emphasized the alternative—returning unspent funds to the state—would provide no lasting local benefit.
Board members and staff noted the intended use of funds follows National Children’s Alliance guidance that permits staffing and organizational stability spending. A motion to authorize acceptance and allocation of the $233,750 award and to adopt the enabling resolution passed on a roll call vote.
The board’s action authorizes county staff to apply the CAC grant to the specified salary subsidies and program support for Lilybrook, subject to CAC spending rules and future grant availability. The commission did not adopt any permanent county budget increases tied to these supplements; officials said continued pay beyond the grant year would depend on future appropriations or grant awards.
