Douglas County approves part‑time coordinator to revive property‑crime compensation fund

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted April 8 to create a 0.2 full‑time equivalent position to coordinate the county’s property‑crime compensation fund and reallocated $15,000 from an existing line item to pay the coordinator’s salary.

District Attorney Dakota Lumis told the board the fund reimburses victims for property‑crime losses (statutory awards up to $250 for misdemeanors and $500 for felonies) and that the program had lapsed: "in 2024 we had zero awards given," Lumis said, summarizing an internal audit and a break in outreach and processing that left eligible victims unaware and applications unprocessed. He said the office now receives roughly $20,000–$21,000 annually in traffic‑diversion fees that may be used to sustain awards going forward.

Why it matters: Lumis said a dedicated, part‑time coordinator would resume regular outreach to victims, simplify and centralize applications and records, ensure statutory reporting and accounting, and support the three‑member review board that approves awards. He described prior administrative gaps, including an unwieldy eight‑page application that was reduced to a one‑page form and several years in which applications were not processed.

How it will work: The district attorney said the statute requires the county to fund the coordinator while the DA appoints the person and the commission appoints the three‑member board. Lumis asked the commission to convert a $20,000 annual line item for awards into a $15,000 personnel allocation for the 0.2 FTE and to let the local fund (diversion fees and reserves) pay actual awards; he reported roughly $59,000 had been added to the local reserve over the last four years and that the fund has sufficient balance for near‑term awards.

Board reaction and vote: Commissioners asked whether the coordinator could be paid from the local fund (Lumis said statute limits the local fund to awards and that salary must come from the county), how many awards were previously issued (higher in early years, falling in 2021–2024), and whether outreach would reach victims who never had a charged case. Lumis said anyone who reports a loss to law enforcement—even if not charged—could be eligible and that the coordinator would work with law enforcement to identify victims quickly. The commission voted unanimously to create the 0.2 FTE and allocate $15,000 from line item 10001510099095 to fund the position.

Next steps: The district attorney’s office will post the position and the coordinator will be responsible for intake, application processing, monthly board support and required reporting to the district court. The three‑member compensation board retains discretion over award amounts and can waive statutory caps if it chooses.