Lake County board authorizes probation to apply for Prop 64 cohort grant despite public calls for more detail

The Lake County Board of Supervisors on May 12 authorized the probation department to apply for a Proposition 64 cohort grant from the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) and designated the chief probation officer as the county’s authorized signatory for the application and any resulting agreement.

Supervisor Sabatier told the board staff first learned of the BSCC RFP released Feb. 13 and coordinated with the Community Development Department before deciding March 9 to proceed with probation as the lead agency. Sabatier said the county’s application seeks just over the BSCC’s 70% threshold for public-safety and enforcement activities to qualify for priority review and would allocate about 30% of funds to youth-prevention programs, including probation’s family wrap program and a proposed “science of the positive” program from the Montana Institute.

Why it matters: the grant would expand probation capacity and youth services. Sabatier said the award would fund a probation officer focused on cannabis-related cases (she said the county currently supervises about 95 people with cannabis-related charges), continue two positions funded in prior cohorts, add a staff services analyst to compile grant data, and provide equipment and supplies. Staff said award notices are expected by the end of June 2026 and, if awarded, funding would begin July 1; the county would return to the board to consider the BSCC contract and award agreement.

Public commenters praised probation’s youth work but repeatedly asked for more material. An in-room speaker asked that the item be removed from the consent agenda because the posted materials in Granicus included only a short description and lacked a work plan and budget; the speaker said they had seen references to a $4.5 million figure in public remarks but that the staff packet did not show a budget breakdown. Lisa, a resident and workforce-development professional, commended probation and asked that community groups be included in planning and prioritization for areas with higher youth need. Marggo Kambara urged both streamlined processes and public transparency so funds are not effectively spent before the public can weigh in.

An online commenter identifying as Slay Hillsburg Family Farms questioned whether jurisdictions must meet storefront-sales eligibility or a population threshold in the BSCC eligibility rules, and asked whether probation would carry out enforcement activities described in the RFP — such as inspections, compliance checks or controlled buys — or whether partner agencies would perform those tasks. The commenter suggested shifting more of the award toward youth programming.

Action taken: a board member moved and another seconded a motion to authorize the application and designate the chief probation officer to sign on behalf of Lake County; the motion passed and the item was closed. The meeting transcript records an oral remark of "I opposed" by an unidentified speaker immediately before the clerk announced the motion "carries 5-0," a contradiction the transcript does not resolve. The motion text as recorded in the meeting materials authorizes the probation department to apply for the Prop 64 cohort funding and designates the chief probation officer as the authorized individual to sign the grant application and enter the grant agreement on behalf of Lake County.

What’s next: staff will learn whether the county receives an award by late June 2026; if awarded, funding would begin July 1 and the county will return to the board for contract approval and acceptance of the BSCC award.