Cass Social Services spending on track

WALKER -- Cass County Social Services spending was at the anticipated budget amount, $655.434, at the end of January.

This is despite the fact out-of-home placement costs ran 1 percent higher than expected last month.

After reimbursements and grants, $172,150 in county tax revenue was spent in January to place children outside their own homes.

The highest amount, $117,692, was paid for children in correctional facilities. The balance went for those in emergency shelters, foster homes and group homes. The county also paid $3,503 for health services, respite care, transportation and court costs.

Health and Human Services Director Dorothy Opheim reported to the county board Tuesday the county spent $54,911.30 last year on jail inmate health care expenses.

Because of some expensive hospitalizations helping to drive costs higher than normal, the total last year was double the annual jail health budget.

Reviewing the unusual circumstances last year, Opheim said she considers the county lucky costs did not run higher than they did.

That inmate health care budget has been set again at $25,000 for this year, an amount Opheim said she expects should be adequate unless something unexpected should happen.