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One point six million dollars. That’s how much money the city would have to pony up if a new agreement isn’t reached over the county jail. With just days left before the contract expires, negotiations are stalled and officials are scrambling to reach a compromise. FOX 23’s Douglas Clark has the story.
On November 30th, the 10-year contract between the city and county for operating the county jail will come to an end. And if no new contract is reached, the county may start charging the city a flat rate for each inmate.
But city leaders are balking at the proposed rate – $54 per inmate per day, translating into $1.6 million a year. That’s on top of a portion of sales tax revenue the county already gets from the city. That would remain in place regardless of a new contract.
“Sheriff Glanz said he could operate the jail for $39 a day per inmate. I don’t know where they get $54,” says City Councilor Rick Westcott.
“That’s simply the rate we set based on a formula we use for Federal inmates,” responds County Commissioner John Smaligo.
Smaligo says the jail needs more money than it’s currently getting to offset the cost of housing city inmates.
“It’s not that we’re trying to make money off the city,” says Smaligo. “On the contrary, we’re trying to offset the costs.”
While Smaligo says the rate is negotiable, Councilor Rick Westcott does not think it’s accurate because city inmates don’t receive the same services county inmates receive, because they are typically not there as long.
“If $54 is a number the Federal government has arrived at for federal prisoners, that’s fine. But let’s be realistic. What are the county’s costs? What does it cost them to house a municipal prisoner? And it’s not $54,” says Westcott.
But if a new agreement isn’t reached by Sunday night, there is word the city and county could end up suing each other, costing more money for taxpayers.
“In my opinion, a lawsuit is a big mistake,” says Westcott. “It shouldn’t go to that. In essence, that’s the citizens suing themselves.”
City and county leaders plan on working through the weekend to agree on terms of a new contract. They say another extension is unlikely. That means, if no new contract is reached, the city may have to come up with the money to pay for its portion of the inmates.
Despite the disagreement, city and county officials say public safety will not be jeopardized and the jail will continue to house city inmates.
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