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Juvenile detention at risk as promised OHA grant did not materialize, county director warns
Summary
Klamath County juvenile department director told commissioners the loss of an expected Oregon Health Authority grant leaves detention budget short by roughly $750,000 for the fiscal half-year and said without bridge funding the 24/7 detention facility could cease operating as staffed; commissioners discussed using one‑time LATCF and opioid settlement dollars as temporary funding.
Dan Golden, identified in the meeting transcript as director of the county juvenile department, told the Klamath County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 25 that an anticipated Oregon Health Authority (OHA) biennial grant did not materialize and left the juvenile detention subdepartment with a significant shortfall.
Golden said that during the county’s 2025 budget process staff had anticipated biennial grant support of $1.5 million (about $750,000 per fiscal year) tied to an OHA waiver process. He said the OHA program was withdrawn and that the missing funds were earmarked both for staffing (about $500,000 over the biennium) and program enhancements such as case‑management systems.
"After 63 years of continuous service, the facility would cease to function as a 24 7 service to law enforcement agency," Golden told commissioners, warning that in the absence of bridge funding police officers could be forced to cite and release juveniles rather than book them into detention.
Golden said the detention department began a week with 11 youths in custody and that without the expected revenue the county would need to consider large drawdowns that would impair operations. He described several possible revenue opportunities still pending, including grant applications and a pilot discussion with the Oregon Health Authority and another county, but said those funds had not arrived.
In response, commissioners discussed temporary funding options. One commissioner proposed using LATCF one‑time funds to bridge the remaining portion of the fiscal year and suggested opioid‑settlement dollars could be appropriate if spent on treatment or prevention programs. Commissioners agreed to pursue short‑term support while scheduling a strategic discussion in early January to review expenditures and longer‑term funding options.
No formal vote or appropriation was recorded in the meeting transcript; commissioners asked staff to develop options and return with more detailed figures.
