Fiscal Court Holds Special Meeting to Discuss FY 27 Jail Budget

The Jackson County Fiscal Court met on Tuesday, March 24th, for a special-called meeting. The only item to discuss was the FY 27 Jail Budget. The reason we had to call for a special meeting to address the Jail budget is because we have to have it submitted to the State by April 1, 2026.

The proposed budget for FY 27 is $2,079,225.06. The biggest source of revenue for Jail operations is State Prisoners. We budgeted $900,000 on that line item for the upcoming Fiscal Year. Of course, that number will fluctuate due to inmate availability and population.

State Legislatures are looking at per diem increases for state inmates that will increase by $4 per day per state inmate, if passed, will help with jail operation costs.

In our proposed FY 27 jail budget, we budgeted $664,120.06 coming from our General fund. Not included in the jail budget is the bond payment for the jail. That payment comes from our general fund and was $225,854.44 this past year. That is close to $900,000 coming from the general fund just to keep the jail open and running.

We are mandated by state law to either provide housing for county inmates within our facilities or cover the costs associated with their incarceration in other correctional institutions. This is one reason that small County's like ours struggle with financial obligations.

Other obligations within the proposed jail budget include jail personnel salaries at $950,000, medical services at $200,000, food at $245,000, utilities at $115,000 and the list goes on. Our jailer and staff do the best they can to make ends meet but the general fund has no option but to kick in when revenue comes up short. A large portion of our occupational tax and insurance premium tax revenue ends up supporting jail operations. The Fiscal Court would love to use that revenue in other areas such as roads, parks and community development, but we have to keep our obligations met as far as state mandates are concerned.

I appreciate all the messages, cards, calls and prayers during my recent surgery. I am still recovering but am working when I can. It is a slow recovery and I am sore but doing well.
Have a blessed week