Council hears that probation lost $120,000 J‑RAC grant; line‑item increases explained

The Henry County council reviewed the probation budget and heard from a probation representative that a J‑RAC grant (through the Department of Corrections) had been cut for the county, costing roughly $120,000 and creating pressure on this year’s budget.

"I lost about a $120,000 grant. That's the reason for the increases in my budget," the probation representative (identified in the meeting as Susan, Speaker 7) said, explaining that she had shifted spending to grant funds where possible and was now drawing on county lines to maintain services for a staff of 13.

Council members asked whether the lost grant was state or federal; Susan said the J‑RAC grant came through the Department of Corrections at the state level and that community corrections and drug court funding were also reduced in recent cuts. She said some other grants remain incoming and would offset portions of the losses, but several line items that previously were supported by grant money will now be drawn down over the remainder of the year.

Next steps: the council accepted the explanation and had no immediate additional reductions in the probation budget beyond the countywide targets discussed in the meeting.