The Sentence-to-Serve program is going to continue full swing despite the fact that the state will now fund only 25% of the cost instead of 50%.
On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, the county board voted to approve an amendment to its twoyear cost-sharing contract with the state. The county’s share this year will be $56,991, 75% of the program’s cost, to cover what the state is no longer funding. Last year the county paid 50% of the annual program cost, or $37,994. The total cost per year for one crew leader to supervise up to 10 offenders about 40 hours a week is $75,988. Gary Jorgenson of Grand Marais runs the program.
“It’s a good program,” said Commissioner Jim Johnson. “I would hate to see it being reduced.”
County Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers said the program has saved the county from the cost of keeping offenders in jail. “It clearly pays for itself,” he said.
The Sentence-to-Serve crew must spend at least 25% of its time on projects requested by the state, which benefit the entire county anyway.
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