(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) - Florida is not expected to spend at least $2 million of an $18.6 million federal drug court grant before it expires in March 2013.
That projection is in a report issued in the past week by the Legislature's Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability.
The unspent amount could top $4 million if the Legislature fails to appropriate state dollars to continue the program in eight counties after the grant expires.
That's because new admissions would have to cease about a year before it ends.
State Courts Administrator Elizabeth Goodner blames an error in estimating the pool of eligible participants and Duval County's decision to pull out of the program.
Goodner, though, said the state has saved nearly $10.5 million by diverting drug offenders from prison.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
