To: Dale K. Weighill, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Marlene Collick, Deputy Director, Community Corrections
title
RE: Approval of a request by Genesee County's Specialty Court, not to exceed $143,716.20 for one (1) year, to provide staffing for the court; the cost of this request will be paid from Opioid Settlement Funds
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Genesee County Community Corrections is requesting in an amount not to exceed $143,716.20 from the opioid settlement funds for Genesee County Specialty Court for Fiscal Year 2025/2026, October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026 for one (1) year.
BACKGROUND:
Genesee County Specialty Courts has been in operation for many years and primarily funded through grant federal dollars. Program terminations and budget decreases are currently taking place nationally. Federal grant streams have informed agencies to anticipate cuts of 10-20%. Genesee County Specialty Courts is projected to be decreased by more than $143,716.20 but have worked diligently to identify other funding streams to accommodate the difference. This request is to supplement funding cuts with Opiate Settlement Funds to maintain the current staff so that the capacity of clients projected for in Genesee County Specialty Court Programs can be accommodated.
DISCUSSION:
Genesee County Specialty Courts consist of Mental Health Court, Recovery Court, Veterans Treatment Court and Family Dependency Treatment Court. Since January 1, 2020, Specialty Courts has assisted 850 defendants in Genesee County with both criminal and civil dockets. At any given time, these programs have a total capacity of 230.
Opioid Settlement Funds will assist with funding 50% FTE of a Specialty Court Coordinator FTE ($111,490.50) and 30% FTE of a Specialty Court Operations Specialist II position ($32,225.70). Allowing for contingency management procedures to continue and not affect contracts with necessary treatment providers. Ensuring that Genesee County Specialty Courts can operate as ‘normal’ on October 1, 2025
Genesee County has been receiving funding from Opioid Settlements and as of July 2025, has a balance fund of ~$6,400,000.00. The Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee meets regularly to determine the best practices. To continue to offer specialty courts at the magnitude that we do in Genesee County, in an amount not to exceed $143,716.20 is requested from Opioid Settlement funds for fiscal year 2026, for one (1) year.
Funding this type of service through the Opioid Settlement Funds is an approved Core Remediation strategy listed in Exhibit E under Schedule B (Approved Uses), in Section D. Address the Needs of Criminal Justice-Involved Persons under #3, “Support treatment and recovery courts that provide evidence-based options for persons with Opioid Use Disorder and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions.”
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
None
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
No Impact on General Fund.
Grant awards for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 have not yet been awarded but funds are anticipated as follows: SCAO Michigan Mental Health Court Grant Program - $183,024.00, SCAO Byrne JAG Grant - $154,500.00, SAMHSA - $360,000.00 to $400,000.00, SCAO Michigan Drug Court Grant Program Adult Felony - $225,404.00, SCAO Michigan Veterans Treatment Court Program - $25,600, and SCAO Michigan Drug Court Grant Program Family Court - $144,384.00. The total operating budget of the specialty courts for FY 24/25 is $1,111,033.32 and anticipated operating costs for FY 25/26 are $1,218,660.60.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
None
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
The Genesee County Board of Commissioners have committed to creating a Healthy, Livable & Safe Community. This program will help further that goal by assisting those individuals that are experiencing substance use disorders impacted by justice. It will offer those ordered tools, resources and support necessary to maintain recovery. Impacting both public health and public safety.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by Deputy Director of Community Corrections to enter into a Letter of Agreement between Genesee County, through Community Corrections, and the 7th Circuit Court, whereby the Genesee County Specialty Courts will receive opioid settlement funds, in an amount not to exceed $143,716.20 for one year, for FY 2025-2026 to maintain current staffing and service levels, said funding being necessary due to decreases in federal funding, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the September 3, 2025 meeting of the Governmental Operations Committee of this Board), both the Director of the Specialty Courts and the Chairperson of this Board are authorized to execute the Letter of Agreement, and the Chief Financial Officer is directed, as necessary, to record the attached budget amendment.