BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: November 1, 2017, Senator Kevin Lundberg Representative Jeni Arndt Senator Vicki Marble Representative Hugh McKean ‘Senator John Kefalas Representative Perty Buck Megan Davisson, JBC Analyst Representative Joann Ginal Colorado State Capital 200 E Colfax Avenue Denver, CO 80203) Dear Honorable Legislators and Analyst Davisson: ‘The Larimer County Community Corrections Department is cost-afective means of providing mental heath and substance aause treatment along with quality supervsion to high-risk offenders while addressing their needs ina community seting, Community Corrections also reduces the cost of incarceration forthe Colorado Department of Corrections by placing inmates in an aternatve location. Looking at historical reimbursement trends from the legislature, residential Community Corrections programs across the state received an annual 3% increase to their base rate until 2002103 when Community Corrections received a significant reduction tothe base rate of $37 72 to $34.70. Since that ime, there have been modest increases tothe base rate bringing reimbursement to $42.68 in FY 2017/18, Had the 3% increase continued annually subsequent {the 2002/03 reduction, the base rate In 2016/17 would be reflected at nearly $55.45 in Fy2015r"6. ‘This shoal in state funding is causing Larimer County to put $737,487 of General Fund monies into the Community Corrections program forthe fist ime in recent memory. This level ‘of funding in not sustainable ong term. ations and personnel ‘Our department has experienced ongoing increases inthe cost of our personnel costs ‘costs, Due ta the salary structure of our county operated departmer ‘account for 80.2% of our department's budget ‘This s drectly related to our highly educated and trained staff who consider their employment with our department as a long-term career. According to the Division of Criminal Justice (2013) Staff Stabilty Factor Category, our department was one of ony thee programs in the state that received a high rating for staff stability factor in all three categories: security, case ‘management and program administration. We beliove staff retention has a direct correlation to the overall outcomes of offender success. [BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS‘Since FY 2013/14, the overall daly base rate increase of 10.31% Is insufficient and fails to keep Lup ith cost-oFiving adjustments and inflation. The bottom line is that the funding formula used by the legislature has not kept pace with, nor wl it cover, the cost of operations for Larimer County Community Corrections. Although offenders are required to pay up to $17.00 aday as part of their supervision, the offender population has numerous barriers (Le. ack of education, femployments skis, restitution, child suppor, et), which makes it dificult to collect the full ‘amount. We believe that providing adequate funding for Community Corrections will promote public safety; reduce reciivis restore offenders to be positive, productive members; and benefit the entire criminal justice system in Larimer County andthe State of Colorado. \We would ike the opportunity to brief Senator Lundberg and Megan Davisson, and any other ‘members of our delegation who would lke to atlend and hear how adequate funding of county- run Community Corrections can improve public safely outcomes forthe State of Colorado and potentially reduce costs for the Department of Corrections, Please let us know if there would be an opportunity for such @ meeting, Sincerely, ‘THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 5 tin. Steve Jehnaén, Chair Pro Tem County Commissioner, District 2