Crawford County’s monthly juvenile detention share edges up about $300 for 2026, staff says

County staff told the Crawford County Commission that the county’s monthly contribution to the regional juvenile detention center will rise modestly in 2026.

The increase is small but steady: "We were a little bit over $15,000 this year," the staff presenter said, and the draft 2026 figure appears to be about $300 a month higher.

The presenter told the commission the detention center sent a letter with the 2026 budget and that the county’s share will increase slightly next year. Commissioner Moody is the county’s representative on the detention board, the presenter noted. The presenter said the written figures are available on the orange tab in the meeting packet.

Commissioners discussed broader efforts the detention center is pursuing — including partnering with the state to use otherwise empty space for nondefendant holding or other revenue-producing activities — but made no formal decision. The presenter said the state has been encouraging use of under‑used capacity and that the center is pursuing remodeling funds and program options to reduce costs counties would otherwise carry.

The commission did not take formal action on the item at the meeting. Staff said one county that previously participated has since withdrawn from the regional arrangement; the presenter described that as a loss of investment but did not propose immediate policy changes.

The county will consider the detention center’s final budget and any recommended changes as part of routine budget work later this month.