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Twin Falls urges partner counties to adopt base contribution model to sustain regional juvenile detention center
Summary
Twin Falls County asked partner counties, including Blaine, to consider a retainer‑style base contract to cover fixed costs of the Snake River Juvenile Detention Center; proponents said declining occupancy from diversion programs has reduced revenue and increased fiscal instability under a per‑use model.
Twin Falls County Commissioner Brent Reinke and Snake River Juvenile Detention Director Kevin Sandau described a proposal to shift from a strictly per‑use billing model to a regional base contribution (retainer) to help cover fixed operating costs for the Snake River Juvenile Detention Center.
Sandau explained the retainer model would allocate baseline funding based on population and provide a fixed number of "bed days," with additional use billed at existing daily rates. He said declining detention use—credited in part to diversion programs—has reduced revenue while fixed costs of staffing and facility operations remain.
Detention Manager Neil Nakamura said recent cases show youth are presenting with more serious charges and higher mental‑health needs, increasing per‑case costs. Blaine County Chief Probation Officer Teresa Espedal expressed support for continued access to the facility even if Blaine’s usage remains low. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about cost comparisons and historical usage; no vote was taken.
