Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Casa Voca topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Judge requests county funding to sustain CASA position after VOCA warning; council approves related salary and insurance appropriations
Summary
Judge Nathan Verkamp asked the council to backfill a part‑time CASA position if VOCA funding declines; the council approved an amended salary ordinance for the Title IV‑D Administrator and a $7,776 health‑insurance appropriation for Title IV‑D.
Circuit Court Judge Nathan Verkamp told the Dubois County Council the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute has warned grantees that Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding may decline in the next grant cycle, potentially threatening a part‑time position that supports the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program. Verkamp asked the council to fund the position from County General through the end of 2026 and to include roughly $26,000 in the 2027 budget to continue the role.
Auditor Sandra L. Morton said the current VOCA grant ends on Sept. 30, 2026, and that keeping the position through year‑end would cost $5,201 for the remainder of 2026. The council reached consensus to advertise the request and indicated Auditor Morton will coordinate with the CASA director on next steps.
Separately, the council approved an amendment to the Salary Ordinance for the Title IV‑D Administrator, converting the position from hourly to a bi‑weekly salary of $1,745.10 for a 35‑hour workweek, effective Jan. 31, 2026. Deputy Title IV‑D Prosecutor Michael Fritch had requested the change following a resignation. The council also approved a $7,776 additional appropriation in the General Fund to cover Title IV‑D health insurance.
All recorded motions related to the Title IV‑D salary amendment and the insurance appropriation carried unanimously. The council voiced no objections to advertising the CASA funding request for formal consideration at a future meeting.
