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Commission funds 0.2 FTE coordinator to revive property‑crime compensation program
Summary
The Douglas County commission approved creation of a 0.2 FTE property‑crime compensation coordinator, reallocating $15,000 from an existing awards line to fund the part‑time position while awards will be paid from diversion‑fee revenues. The measure passed unanimously.
The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously April 8 to create a 0.2 FTE position to serve as coordinator for the county's property crime compensation fund, aiming to increase outreach and restart a program that had seen no awards in 2024.
District Attorney Dakota Loomis told commissioners the fund reimburses victims for pecuniary losses (statutory caps of $250 for misdemeanors and $500 for felonies) and is administered by a three‑member board. He said the office found the fund largely dormant, with 0 awards in 2024 and administrative gaps that led to missed applications. Loomis proposed funding the coordinator by reallocating $15,000 from an existing $20,000 line item that had historically paid awards, while letting the fund itself (diversion fees) pay future awards.
"We had really stopped doing the work of this commission or this property crime compensation fund," Loomis said, describing process changes already made (a simplified one‑page application and renewed outreach to law enforcement) and an ongoing audit of accounts the office found were not always handled in compliance with statute.
Commissioners asked whether the coordinator could be paid from the local fund; Loomis said state statute indicates the county must pay coordinator personnel costs and that diversion fees are earmarked for awards. He also described how a dedicated coordinator could quickly help people who face immediate hardships — for example, a partial steering‑column theft that left a part‑time worker unable to get to work until repairs were made.
Commissioner Kelly moved to create the 0.2 FTE coordinator and allocate $15,000 from line item 1001510099095 to fund the salary; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The board and the DA's office said they will monitor outreach, application volumes and the fund's solvency and report back to the commission as the coordinator role is implemented.
Next steps: staff will advertise/hire for the part‑time coordinator and continue the audit of the fund's accounts; commissioners said they expect periodic updates on awards and outreach outcomes.
