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Presenters tell commissioners drug court relies on state grant and participant fees; SAMHSA expansion detailed
Summary
Penny Knight told Hamblen County commissioners the drug court operates with a $103,000 state grant and participant $1,000 fees, which have generated about $26,300 so far this year; presenters also outlined a multi‑year SAMHSA expansion grant supporting additional personnel and services across the district.
Penny Knight, presenting Tab 26 at the June 1 Hamblen County budget meeting, told commissioners the local drug court is supported by a $103,000 state grant and by a $1,000 program fee paid by participants. "Everybody in our program pays $1,000 program fee," Knight said, and she reported that program fees had produced roughly $26,300 in the first 11 months of the year. Combined with the state grant, Knight said about $140,000 has been applied to the current year's budget for the treatment courts.
Knight also explained that when participants are enrolled the court coordinates with the state Department of Correction (TDOC) and probation fees are waived while participants are active in the program; waivers are limited and have been granted in rare circumstances.
The commission also heard about the mental health court, which the presenter said receives a $180,000 state grant covering two case managers; one position is vacant and the presenter expects to fill it in July. The presenter said the state has reallocated unspent portions of such grants in the past when programs could not spend the full award.
Separately, the presenter described a federal SAMHSA expansion grant (presented in meeting remarks as a "$52,000,000 5 year grant" with an initial year award around $400,000 and an $86,000 carryover reported). Staff said the SAMHSA expansion funds support counseling (individual and IOP), case management and a data‑entry position and are intended to expand services across the district (Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Greene counties). The presenter said the grant funds three personnel for expansion, a data entry person and two case managers.
Why it matters: These grants and participant fees fund treatment-court operations and affect the county’s cost exposure for treatment court programming. The SAMHSA expansion also would expand services regionally and change staffing needs and carryover expectations for county budgeting.
The commission voted to approve the drug court tab as presented.
