[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6804308,"mediaKeyId","5528622-a7b5e54912bc09a00691fac1e731994a","parentId",5528622,"title","Volunteers and service providers urge Collin County to sustain jail programs amid transport, staffing disruptions","audioSeconds",974,"startMs",1624980,"endMs",2599430,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528622-a7b5e54912bc09a00691fac1e731994a&start=1624&end=2599","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528622-a7b5e54912bc09a00691fac1e731994a/thumbnail_1624980.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6804308/Collin-County/Texas/Volunteers-and-service-providers-urge-Collin-County-to-sustain-jail-programs-amid-transport-staffing-disruptions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6804308-b1d1e3803b9110ddaa64fb70197543e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500603&Signature=Uw~LjHCW1pRPCbD6l7fFyh2BQVHdUI~3swW5UZ9MephL7OIc-Ry547rq9UWF0JYD4NC0Yicb-CDb2-rC-jUwI4p~FDSyyH5t-WwJsYnZIdq3XrsWXePdz75dTntFuhSjwJTKeZD78ARcKsRzN440ox2om84peevxUF-6umZFsaN6VQzLh1RtQ1t3ugGoMeBLofSyZJJ3KRgy4RNckiUAYIlcP4K1IYEeePmhhO1TYLzmrY0SuYuYg48YOX5KXOnvkUBN~WCDhl3dtR1z~OZW4UF~-CLMkpS98i0Jjatf-kmBVXemh1qWK0RvtE1vasPUpXe3ffRDCpxXEY8K1-JWwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Collin","date","2025-08-04T00:00:00Z","article","A group of volunteers and nonprofit representatives told Collin County commissioners during the budget workshop that county-managed inmate programs — from a children’s storybook recording project to faith-based retreats and anger-management classes — are being disrupted by cancellations tied to guard shortages and transport logistics.

Tamara Sherrill, who said she is part of Unchained Warriors, described how program funding and volunteer time shaped her recovery after incarceration and urged continued support for reentry services. “Having these programs are so important,” Sherrill said, recounting how volunteers taught her job skills and helped her leave the system.

Volunteers described practical barriers. Jana Ashburner, who teaches anger-management and other classes, said sessions have been canceled when escorts or female guards are not available: “...you have to get here 30 minutes before to get walked back yourself to the programs department and have somebody escort you there…and only to find out we don't have an escort.” She added that repeated cancellations erode volunteers’ commitment.

Jerome Bailey, who volunteers at the McKinney Correctional Facility, said the program department has lost transport capacity: “I get cancellations all the times telling me that we can't do it today because we don't have enough guards to transport the inmates to the program session…so that we can conduct the programs.” Bailey and others urged the court to ensure consistent staffing so the programs can operate and yield the recidivism-reduction benefits volunteers claim.

Marty Jones, a volunteer with the Women’s Storybook Project, described the project that records mothers reading books for their children, noting it has provided 324 books and recordings since April at no cost to the county and asked commissioners to support staffing that allows the program to continue.

Presiding Judge thanked the speakers, said he was surprised by the theme, and said the court would dig into the issue of cancellations in the coming days. He noted that the sheriff had been invited to respond at a later session so commissioners and the public could hear a fuller explanation.

Commissioners did not take formal action at the workshop; they invited volunteers to remain engaged as the court reviews budget trade-offs that could affect transport and program staffing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Collin - FY 2026 Budget Workshop Aug 04, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Several volunteers and nonprofit representatives told the Commissioners Court that program sessions for inmates are being canceled because of insufficient guards and transport, and they urged the court to prioritize funding to keep volunteer-run reentry programs running.","taxTitle","Collin County, Texas","taxId",2696,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6804312,"Collin County budget workshop lays out revenue scenarios and tax-rate choices",468,191820,660660,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528622-a7b5e54912bc09a00691fac1e731994a&start=191&end=660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528622-a7b5e54912bc09a00691fac1e731994a/thumbnail_191820.jpg","/articles/6804312/Collin-County/Texas/Collin-County-budget-workshop-lays-out-revenue-scenarios-and-tax-rate-choices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6804312-1d1eb9ee42cf5196b90e11d9238cbf7e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500603&Signature=VZWETEqtPyLyBX5nqYiyiCzWaUsXCKYGqaUUVJ6MiUuBhaujj3JUXbo-WX-A81myhkxe~BCYe9V0WENcnoZ546GLM1GR~Yu-Yift0WFo-eIjHW~tuPICZfRWHS2rhIckFSx1KNW6~gEdvkyikgIrWYPzyPNurWL~URdpfC7blLTwJLROu4xxj0QaeEq~kNpS3dYBkDwCre3UWcQcLwMLW6iWpUGnA9j3xcfVWWLS7BKOWM3oy8fKSjb0aGRLnTWgpn9UvGjiNNyIxDi93mfSakSx4kewUPQnnmKih7TzQsCkEDxabHrWiP7iLhS6Ul~B5phXI~kQunQaVeT52YaWww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Collin County’s budget team told the Commissioners Court during its annual workshop that a steady set of cost pressures — rising medical insurance bills, contractual obligations and public-safety needs — will shape the county’s tax-rate decision for 2026.

Monica Harris, the county’s budget finance director, said the county began the process from an adopted recurring general fund of $299.81 million and that medical insurance increases alone required about $4 million in additional funding. “Our base budget is the continuation of those existing programs,” Harris said, describing the base as covering ongoing programs, contractual obligations and required debt service.

Harris presented three broad groupings of requested spending: statutory and contractual base items ($9.87 million), budget-department-supported additions ($12 million) and items left to the court’s discretion, including staffing for a new jail. She said the budget office has posted supporting documents to the county’s external website for public review.

On revenues, Harris ran scenarios that keep the county at a “no new revenue” tax rate as well as options up to the legal maximum that avoid triggering an election. Under the no-new-revenue scenario, combined general-fund receipts would range roughly from $314.2 million to $331.1 million when other revenues such as fees and investment earnings are included. Combined fund totals — general fund plus special revenue, debt service and permanent improvements — range from about $575.8 million to $595.9 million depending on the chosen tax rate.

Harris also outlined specific tax-rate components the court must weigh, including an increased debt rate (noted in the presentation as roughly 0.041891) and a voter-approval M&O component. She warned that the court’s ultimate choices on pay-for-performance, market adjustments, and court-consideration items would affect the final numbers.

The budget director flagged a handful of funds and impacts that commissioners will likely face in deliberations: the road-and-bridge fund (supported primarily by vehicle-registration fees), a permanent-improvement fund kept flat at $2 million, and a required debt payment increase that will use debt-service fund balance. Harris said the Collin County Healthcare Foundation will again receive a transfer from the general fund — roughly $3.8 million — to balance its budget for the coming year.

The court recessed the workshop with the expectation it will continue detailed reviews of additions, deletions and policy choices later in the week before setting a proposed tax rate and public hearings.","County budget director presented base-budget figures showing general-fund starting point near $299.8 million, insurance pressures needing roughly $4 million, and tax-rate options that would produce combined funds of roughly $575.8M–$595.9M depending on choices and legal caps.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6804302,"Collin County human-resources director flags medical-plan cost surge, proposes cost-sharing options",2817,2907830,5725510,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528622-a7b5e54912bc09a00691fac1e731994a&start=2907&end=5725","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528622-a7b5e54912bc09a00691fac1e731994a/thumbnail_2907830.jpg","/articles/6804302/Collin-County/Texas/Collin-County-human-resources-director-flags-medical-plan-cost-surge-proposes-cost-sharing-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6804302-75085a479d6f7bd5495a505a40d51a12/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500603&Signature=MawwIQ2BnUWPRxXtSz6JTeILexRCLfFTYu8dqjHIrEw-Zl8mEpeiYXrFdNfxC8FRqL6BOjOceN7dXA8rnVgY5AbtlyRDvAwHtWM1U7t5UlVdX2luWpJUwIgMYBdehCTxap17zbNkpU2-7OMTCwwr7Vl9IBKxkvZW6qNxCjvBdofSWTYbFIyW3ERI3ZimR-BndPlhHt-y0B5v9akqk--cgs3vBCAhYX1ou2tmdCdosPd-HaOBBVhncqx1Lxz286hOpzQKsS13LdDuz6w4aP-yIgqDPwQKC0T8MzJkN0rePdK0HNKmepvOB-v1PavcTZIMF5t3Zy7gqYLwNajdGj7gtg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Collin County’s human-resources director told the Commissioners Court the county’s self-insured medical plan is facing rising costs driven by catastrophic claims and higher use of expensive diabetes medications, and she laid out several policy options commissioners could consider.

Cynthia Jacobson, Human Resources Director, said the plan experienced nearly a $6 million increase in claims from 2023 to 2024 and noted a single $2 million claim as a material driver. “We carry stop loss coverage to even out our expenses over the year, and stop loss covers any claim over $100,000,” Jacobson said, explaining existing protections and the limits of budgeted stop-loss and administrative coverage.

Jacobson warned that 54% of insured people with chronic or complex conditions account for over 90% of costs and that pharmacy expenses are now more than a quarter of medical spend. For the first time, she said, diabetes drugs — GLP1s — are the plan’s top drug category, driven by a large increase in users and by previously looser authorization rules; UnitedHealthcare later required diabetes diagnosis authorizations, reducing counts.

To address rising costs, Jacobson presented options for court consideration: a 10% coinsurance for outpatient surgeries (actuarial reduction in claims estimated at roughly $100,000), a $100 annual prescription deductible per insured (actuarial savings about $70,000), and modest dental premium increases for dependents paired with stronger wellness incentives to encourage participation. She described efforts already underway to manage utilization, including nurse liaisons who work directly with high-cost members.

Commissioners asked questions about formularies, the county’s flexibility with third-party administrators and how the county might treat existing patients dependent on drugs that are removed from the formulary. Jacobson said the county can pursue reimbursement mechanisms and medical-necessity exceptions in individual cases but that some drugs (biologics moving to biosimilars or being removed by the administrator) pose negotiation challenges.

No formal decisions were made; Jacobson said staff will provide additional cost-impact charts and a one-page cheat sheet to quantify per-employee impacts if commissioners request them as the court continues budget deliberations later in the week.","Human Resources Director Cynthia Jacobson told commissioners that catastrophic claims and rising GLP1 use have driven medical-plan costs up; she proposed options including outpatient-surgery coinsurance, a $100 prescription deductible, and dependent-premium adjustments to offset rising costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Volunteers and service providers urge Collin County to sustain jail programs amid transport, staffing disruptions

Collin County budget workshop lays out revenue scenarios and tax-rate choices

Collin County human-resources director flags medical-plan cost surge, proposes cost-sharing options