Fiscal Highlights - July 2014

The lawmakers have passed legislation and made appropriations in the last two general sessions to solidify a state-local funding model for receiving centers and youth services (RC&YS) programs provided by the Division of Juvenile Justice Services (DJJS).  For example, in the 2014 General Session, the Legislature appropriated $439,400 ongoing and $290,000 one-time to DJJS for RC&YS programs in Blanding and Cedar City.  This appropriation contained the following intent language:  

It is the intent of the Legislature that the $439,400 ongoing General Fund and $290,000 one-time General Fund appropriations to receiving centers and youth services for the FY 2015 budget, be used for implementation of recommendations 1, 8, 9, 11, and 13 contained in the CCJJ working group report titled "Youth Services and Receiving Centers Working Group Report."

Recommendations 1, 8, 9, 11, and 13 of the CCJJ working group report, referenced above, focus on stabilizing funding for receiving centers and implementing a state matching program with local governments for RC&YS. 

In its August 5, 2014 interim meeting, the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee (EOCJ) will hear a presentation from DJJS on its plan to implement the state-local funding partnership for RC&YS, its activities so far to obtain local funding, and the status of local government contributions.  Local funding for RC&YS would aid in keeping these programs fully operational statewide.  In some cases, not only would local funding allow for RC&YS to be fully operational, but may even provide the means of keeping these programs from being closed. Additional details of legislative action and intent for the state-local funding model for RC&YS can be found here.   

FY 2013

During its August 2013 interim meeting, EOCJ received a report from DJJS wherein the table below was presented.  The figure shows FY 2013 state and local funding amounts for RC&YS identifying the total budget and funding mix for each location, as well as the overall funding mix for RC&YS statewide. 

FY 2014

DJJS has provided an FY 2014 version of this table, which can be a starting point for analyzing the status of state-local partnerships in funding RC&YS statewide.  

FY 2014 to FY 2013 Comparison

Overall funding for RC&YS statewide has decreased by about 9%.  

State funding as a percentage of overall spending has increased by about 6%.  Spending on Vantage Point in Provo has increased by about $119,000 or 11% (about 68% state funding and about 21% local funding).

Local government contributions as a percentage of overall spending have increased by about 674%. Vantage Point in Provo increased from from $3,700 to $29,000 - a 684% increase.