Director of District 12 Veterans Treatment Court requests $150,000 from counties to stabilize operations

Zane Campbell, director of the District 12 Veterans Treatment Court, addressed the Board of Commissioners on Feb. 16 to ask for recurring financial support from Lee County to stabilize a program he said has shown measurable outcomes.

Campbell said 136 veterans have participated in the court over 13 years with 12 re-offenses, which he summarized as "a less than 10% recidivism rate." He described the court's operating budget at a basic level as $562,000 per year and explained the program currently relies primarily on two federal Bureau of Justice grants that can expire; one grant in the program expires Oct. 1 of the current grant year, he said. "I'm asking for a $150,000 annually," Campbell told the board.

Commissioners asked whether the request targeted FY 2027 and about current county participation from neighboring counties; Campbell said Harnett County has agreed to $150,000 per year and that about 35% of veterans in the program over the last three years were from Lee County. Board members also discussed potential funding sources, including ARPA set-aside dollars for behavioral health, and whether the court could apply for additional grants while receiving county support.

No county funding vote occurred at the Feb. 16 meeting. Commissioners signaled appreciation for the program’s work and asked staff to explore funding options and to report back.

Next steps: County staff to consider potential funding sources and return with options for board consideration.