Community Corrections will rely on reimbursements for drug testing and try for a grant to make up for a reduction of about $35,000 in its allocation for handling adult offenders. The budget information was explained late Tuesday afternoon during a meeting of the Community Corrections Advisory Board.
“I’m going to have to spend some of our revenue to get through the first six months of the budget,” said Robert Sullivan, Community Corrections director.
Sullivan said he will work with staff to write an application for a share of about $4 million of state grant money that has become available through Senate Bill 14. The money will be distributed through a competitive process among 30 other judicial districts in the state.
Sullivan also said that he met with county commissioners to explain why he inserted contingency funding for the department in the county budget.
Funds available to the department have dropped substantially in recent years, and it has become difficult to finance programs adequately.
“I can’t do it for a third consecutive year,” Sullivan said.
He said that staff members have not had a raise for three years. A raise scheduled to go into effect in January will amount to two percent by the end of the year.
He told board members that he wants to emphasize work force development to encourage offenders in careers. Offenders who gain skills that allow them to have careers with benefits are more likely to be successful in overcoming drug habits, as well as helping them develop good work ethics.
“Career placement will reduce risk,” he said.
Board member J.C. McNee said that tax breaks may be available to companies that employ parolees as new hires. Other funds may be available through vocational rehabilitation programs.
The board voted not to pay Catholic Community Charity one-quarter of its $21,000 allocation for the first quarter of the fiscal year, which began July 1st.
CCC had requested the payment when it notified the board that the Pathways program would be discontinued when the program manager retires this year. Pathways provides six-week “Common Sense Parenting” classes in both English and Spanish.
When the program is closed, the five to eight clients in the program will be transferred to the “Love and Logic” program operated through the Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas.
“I’m not sure we should be paying to shut programs down,” said board member Judge Lee Fowler. “We should be paying for services.”
The board voted to invite three agencies that currently receive Juvenile Justice Authority funds — Big Brothers Big Sisters, Family Solutions and Chase County Mentors — to write brief statements about how the diverted Pathways funds would be used if the advisory board decides to reallocate the money. The board then will decide how the funds will be redistributed.