Kosciusko County approves $40,000 for re-entry court grant; $10,000 set for drug-testing equipment

The Kosciusko County board approved funding for a re-entry court grant, allocating $30,000 from restricted funds and $10,000 from unrestricted funds to cover drug-testing equipment and program needs, a committee member moved during the meeting.

The motion followed a presentation by Karen, a representative of the re-entry court program, who explained the application seeks supplemental funding as other grant support is threatened. Karen said the program had listed a total project cost of $123,750 in one section of the application while the budget table listed $95,973, and noted Warsaw City Council opioid funds had also contributed to the program’s revenue mix.

Why it matters: Board members framed the allocation as a way to sustain re-entry court services — which include housing support, employment training and case management — and to remove costs from participants. Karen emphasized that drug testing is primarily an assessment tool used to guide treatment, not merely a punitive measure: “Drug testing is not one of those things [opioid funds] can be covered,” she said, adding, “We requested $10,000. We could use every bit of that.”

Board discussion focused on two funding constraints. Karen and members agreed that federal/state opioid-designated (restricted) funds cannot be used for drug testing under the restrictions cited in the presentation, so the board opted to use unrestricted dollars to pay for equipment and to draw restricted funds for other program costs that fit the restriction. A board member clarified that participant-facing costs for services such as therapy and housing supports could be paid from restricted funds where allowable.

Members also raised personnel and compensation questions. Karen described the program coordinator, Stephanie, as a non-probation staff person who works from probation offices and performs case-management and coordination duties. Board members noted Stephanie recently earned a master’s degree; compensation adjustments would be handled by the wage committee. As one member put it, wage-committee approval would be required before any salary bump was finalized.

The board then voted to approve the grant with the split funding — $30,000 restricted, $10,000 unrestricted — with the clear caveat that any wage adjustments for staff must return to the wage committee for final action. After the vote, Karen invited board members to observe the re-entry court, which she said typically meets on Wednesdays at 9 a.m.

Next steps: The wage committee will review any proposed pay changes for the coordinator, and administrative staff will implement the approved funding allocation. The meeting also noted other applicants or representatives advertised on the agenda were not present to answer questions.