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Commissioners review large Cornerstone juvenile detention increase; county staff say contracting may still be cheaper than in-house option
Summary
Natrona County commissioners reviewed a Cornerstone letter seeking an increase to roughly $2.45 million for juvenile detention services; commissioners noted a reported $400,000 increase and discussed bidding and vendor options but acknowledged limited qualified providers.
Commissioners reviewed a May 21 letter from Cornerstone requesting an increase to the juvenile detention contract, with figures discussed in the meeting pegged near $2,381,429 to $2.45 million. The clerk and the sheriff’s office communicated that the requested increase would be about $400,000 compared with the prior year’s revised budget.
Members expressed concern about the jump but noted that operating an in-house detention program could cost more because of payroll and staffing obligations. "I don't feel like we have a choice this year," one commissioner said, referencing the sheriff’s recommendation and limited provider capacity. Commissioners discussed whether to seek bids annually, with several noting there are few qualified providers for this type of service.
No formal motion or vote on the contract occurred during the work session; the discussion focused on better understanding the cost drivers and options for procurement. Commissioners asked staff and the county attorney to follow up on the letter, verify the request amount, and consider whether the county should put the service out to bid or pursue other procurement options.
