DeeAnn Lawrence, Northampton County's Corrections Director, told County Council in April that there were just 161 corrections officers (COs) in a jail even though there should be 212. Things are going from bad to worse.
Brandon Dunstane, the county's budget administrator, reviewed the county's finances over the first half of this year. We all recognize that the vacancies at the jail create a stressful environment for staffers who can be and are mandated to pull 16-hour shifts. But this also places huge financial burden on the county.
Dunstane told Council Prez Ken Kraft that corrections officers are now down to 135 from what was reported in April. As a result, it has already burned through its $2 million overtime budget for 2026. Dunstane believes the county is on track to spend $4.5 million in OT, more than twice the budget.
The county's second largest financial concern is Gracedale, the county-owned nursing home. Dunstane noted that the county adopted a budget amendment early in 2026 to make a $6.8 million county contribution to the nursing home because it ended 2025 with a $6.8 million deficit.
After this contribution, however, it soon became apparent that Gracedale was not as badly off as originally thought. Some of its Medicaid applications (Gracedale usually has about 100 Medicaid applications outstanding at any given moment), were approved during the first three months of 2026, and this reduced the $6.8 million deficit to just $3.6 million. As a result, Gracedale has a fund balance of $3.2 million which might be large enough to cover this year's deficit.
Dunstance stated that Gracedale's deficit at the end of June was $1.1 million with an average census of 475. This is below the 520 census needed to break even, and it continues to drop and is currently in the 460s. Dunstane predicts the census at year's end may be more than $2.2 million. But if I understand him correctly, a county contribution for 2026 might be unnecessary because of its $3.2 million fund balance.
He also mentioned a few other items of interest.
Dunstane indicated that the cost of the daycare at Gracedale comes out of the Human Resources budget. I believe this more appropriately belongs with Gracedale budget since this perk exists for Gracedale employees.
Durstane indicated that two county sheriff cars were totaled and had to be replaced.
He finally indicated that Executive Tara Zrinski, who can be seen just about everywhere, is blowing through her travel budget for 2026. He will be seeking a small increase for her to continue to attend conferences and lobby for the county.
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