The board approved a contract with Bucks County Youth Center to provide detention capacity on an as-needed basis when Lebanon County's contracted beds are full, county juvenile probation staff told commissioners.

Susan Christner, deputy director of juvenile probation, said the county does not hold contingent contracted beds at Bucks County but that the agreement permits the county to call Bucks County to request placement if local contracted beds are unavailable. She told the board the per-diem rate in the agreement is $6.50 per day and that the contract term extends through fiscal year 2025-26.

Commissioners discussed the per-diem rate and noted it appeared low relative to other centers in the state; a commissioner observed the $6.50 rate is among the lowest. The board moved and unanimously approved the contingency contract.

Christner said the agreement serves as an operational backup option; no changes to the county's primary contracted beds were described in the public discussion.