Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Juvenile Services Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
West Central Regional Juvenile Center presents budgets; Clay County’s share of secure program rises
Summary
The juvenile center presented secure and nonsecure program budgets; the nonmember daily rate is proposed at $495 for 2027 and County cost share for the secure program is budgeted at about $894,000 — up roughly $93,000 from the prior year — driven by higher acuity youth, staffing and licensing changes.
James, director of the West Central Regional Juvenile Center, told the Clay County Board on July 28 that the secure program budget approved by the 11‑county cooperative proposes a nonmember rate of $495 per day for 2027 and that Clay County’s share of the secure program was budgeted at $894,000. He said the center faces greater costs because youth being placed are higher acuity, state licensing and inspection requirements have increased and staffing needs have grown. The director said demand remains strong and that nonmember placements generate important offset revenue.
For the nonsecure program James said the center retains Medicaid (MA) coverage for nonsecure youth, which changes the revenue mix, and described staffing and training needs for higher‑acuity and autism‑spectrum youth. The director noted the cooperative’s 5% contingency reserve (the "wool ridge") built into the cooperative agreement to mitigate midyear shortfalls. Commissioners and staff praised the juvenile center’s staff and noted the facility’s regional importance for bed availability; commissioners also observed that bed shortages across the state remain acute and that the county has taken advocacy steps to expand capacity at a legislative level.
No board vote was required on the presentation itself; commissioners thanked staff and recognized the center’s role in serving regional placement needs.
