Judge asks board for $16,000 for appellate fees and larger childcare fund transfer for placements

Judge Jess Williams told the board he is seeking transfers from the childcare fund balance to cover appellate legal fees and rising treatment costs for juveniles. The judge said appellate attorney and transcript bills from earlier cases have exhausted the line items and asked to move roughly $16,000 from the fund balance to cover expected bills.

“We had one appeal that pretty much ate my budget,” Judge Williams said, explaining that subsequent cases and transcript workloads will require additional funding. He described several high‑cost placements currently open — one secure facility placement that runs about $250 per day — and estimated a broader shortfall in the childcare fund of roughly $115,000 based on current case trajectories.

Commissioners acknowledged the mandated nature of the services and expressed sympathy; several noted that the fund balance is intended to cover exceptional, court‑ordered costs. Board members asked for historical data and recommended staff work with the judge to provide a clearer projection of anticipated expenditures and reimbursements from state cost‑shares.

Francine clarified that the requests would be charged to the childcare fund balance — not the county general fund — and that some fund lines elsewhere were under budget and might help replenish the childcare fund later in the fiscal year. Commissioners urged the judge and administration to monitor expenses and report back at the next budget meeting.

No formal roll‑call vote to appropriate the funds was recorded in the transcript; the board discussed the request and sought clarifying documentation.