Oriana House is taking a pay cut.The nonprofit organization that provides alternative jail programs will see its annual contract with Summit County trimmed by about $400,000, or 7 percent, next year.The $5.3 million deal, which County Council still must approve, is one of Summit’s largest service contracts.The county, which has been dealing with lower revenue for several years, needs to pass along some of the cuts to contractors, as opposed to continuing to ask its public employees to absorb the cutbacks, said Jason Dodson, chief of staff for County Executive Russ Pry.Dodson said the county originally wanted Akron-based Oriana House to take a larger cut, but officials understand the organization saves taxpayers money by diverting people from costly stays in jail. County leaders estimated that the contract saved $27 million last year, based on the cost per day per offender for alternative programming ($21.85) versus the cost of time spent in jail ($128.53).Oriana House’s services include a halfway house, work release and drunken driving programs. During the first 10 months of this year, the county had 2,583 individuals in such programs.Oriana House usually provides more services than it is reimbursed for, similar to a hospital, said Bernard Rochford, executive vice president of administrative services and business relations.“Year in and year out, we’ve had anywhere from a couple hundred thousand to $1 million in unreimbursed services,” he said.The nonprofit probably can absorb the cut from the county, but it would depend on how many individuals are referred through the year, he added. Oriana House and county officials are curious how the recently enacted state sentencing reform will affect programs.“What we don’t want to do is compromise the service that we deliver to the county and the clients ultimately,” Rochford said.The Oriana House contract isn’t the only one the county has retooled.Earlier this year, Sheriff Drew Alexander renegotiated deals for medical care and food service at the county jail to lower costs.Larry Long, executive director of the County Commissioners’ Association of Ohio in Columbus, said he’s not surprised the county is renegotiating service contracts, considering the decline in revenue.“With all the cuts at the state level that have taken place, people are digging deep and sharpening the pencil on all goods and services,” he said.Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.