The Lincoln County Commissioners on July 6 unanimously approved the terms of its contract with Pathways Treatment Center in Kalispell for the 2016-2017 year.

The approved contract will allow the county to send people to Pathways, an inpatient center for Montana clients who have mental-health or substance-abuse issues. The center is located in Kalispell, while Warm Springs, the state-controlled psychiatric hospital, is located near Deer Lodge, approximately 288 miles away.

The contract between Pathways and Lincoln County agrees to a rate of $772 each day of evaluation and then another $525 for each day of evaluation and treatment with the patient in place, according to Lincoln County Clerk and Recorder Robin Benson. The rates in the agreement are the same dollar amounts as the past year’s contract, she said.

Benson warned the commissioners, however, that a rate increase is impending for the 2017-2018 year, if the commissioners choose to continue their contract.

The increase may make a larger dent in the county’s budget, but only if the County Attorney’s Office has numerous offenders who need treatment at Pathways. Benson said the county’s annual bill has not been linear in past years, having increased from $21,594 in the 2012-2013 year to about $79,917 the year after that. Then, another fiscal year later, the annual expense totaled $6,369.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at [email protected].