This week, I want to discuss jail costs. Jackson County operates a full-service jail, which houses local as well as State inmates. Jailer Brian Gabbard and staff do an exceptional job with the resources they have to work with. The work release program as well as educational programs the jail offers, help incarcerated people get ready for society once their sentence is fulfilled. However, Every small County like ours is struggling with rising operational costs associated with jails. Below I am sharing an article that was sent to me by KACO following a meeting that was held with Legislatures discussing these issues. I had several colleagues there that testified on behalf of this issue.
"Citing examples of high medical costs, rising operational expenses and a continued struggle to recruit and retain quality staff, county officials from four parts of the Commonwealth painted a bleak picture for state legislators Tuesday about the impact of jail costs on county governments in Kentucky.
At the September meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Local Government, KACo Director of Government Affairs Shellie Hampton explained that county jail expenditures, medical costs and transfers from county general funds to support jails have all increased dramatically since Fiscal Year 2019, making it difficult to craft a budget and fund other local needs.
Judge/executives Steve Henry of Webster County, Mike Mitchell of Knox County, Keith Taul of Hardin County and Magistrate Jacqalynn Riley of Grant County each emphasized that point with perspectives from their respective county:"
“[Webster County] took in $1,009,000 in property tax last year. Of that $1 million, we transferred $512,000 out of the general fund to the jail,” Judge/Executive Steve Henry said. “We would have liked to have spent that on economic development, on housing, on all the issues that we’re facing, but we are statutorily obligated to make sure that we fund the jail.”
“We are really struggling to make ends meet,” Judge/Executive Mike Mitchell said. “The $3 million that [the fiscal court] will contribute this year comes directly out of our occupational tax. That hinders any economic development that we can do with those funds.”
“To try to get ahead of exploding jail budget deficits, [Hardin County] has raised property taxes each year by the maximum of 4% over the compensating rate … but it wasn’t enough,” Judge/Executive Keith Taul said. “So we expanded an industrial taxing district. These are things we had to do to try to balance our budget.”
“This situation didn’t happen overnight, and I recognize it’s not going to fix itself overnight,” said Magistrate Jacqalynn Riley. “We stand here willing and able to roll up our sleeves to look for solutions.”
County governments are responsible for the incarceration of all people charged with a crime in their jurisdiction, including alleged felony offenses that have not been adjudicated. There are 77 jails in Kentucky while 43 counties contract with a neighboring county or a regional jail.
After sentencing, misdemeanor offenders and some felony offenders (also known as state inmates) remain in custody at the county jail. The state reimburses $35.34 a day ($33.19 for housing and $2.15 for medical costs) for each state inmate housed in a county jail that is either a parole violator, Class C felon, Class D felon, or is waiting to be transferred to a state facility."
The per diem reimbursement rate has not kept pace with inflation and actual jail operating costs. We are hopeful that Legislatures will take a hard look at how this is affecting our ability to remain within our budgets.
Have a blessed week
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