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October 14, 2007
VA: Counties at odds over costs for regional inmates
This article provides an interesting window on the kinds of considerations that come up locally around the financial aspects of jails. Also, the breakdown in elements making up the per head per day cost of incarceration to the county/taxpayers is interesting: actual operational costs vs. debt service (on bonds paying for the jail's construction). Even in this county where apparently the state paid for half of the construction costs, the debt-service portion is nearly as expensive as the operations cost. ____________________________________________________________
"Tankard presented budget information for the regional jail showing that operational costs for 100 inmates as a daily average is $31.93 per day while debt service cost is $27.40 per day -- totalling $59.33. "As you can see, if we're not charging $60 per inmate, we're losing money," he said."
Counties at odds over costs for regional inmates
BY TAD WAYNE TABORN
October 13, 2007
Delmar Times (Salisbury, MD)
EASTVILLE -- Northampton County would need to charge Accomack about $60 per day per inmate at the Eastern Shore Regional Jail to cover incarceration costs there, officials said this week.
The amount, which includes costs of operation and debt service, is far more than the $20 per day approved by the jail board for Accomack at a recent meeting.
The rate is $50 daily for other Virginia localities. A rate for federal inmates has not been determined.
The difference in Northampton's actual cost and Accomack's proposed fee is a startling wrinkle involving another issue in which the two counties struggle for an agreeable, regional approach to a common problem.
An agreement allows Accomack five beds at no charge -- the beds allowed Northampton massive state aid in construction by making it a regional facility.
"Perhaps given this information, Accomack will be more sympathetic," said Supervisor Andrew Barbour at a Northampton County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday.
Accomack already is housing 15 prisoners at the regional facility, Accomack County Sheriff Robert Crockett reported last month.
Crockett, a jail board member, made the motion for the low jail incarceration rate for Accomack. It passed 4-3, with Crockett, Supervisor Reneta Major, Assistant County Administrator Linda Martin Warner and Northampton Supervisor Larry Trala voting in favor.
Northampton Administrator Katie Nunez and Supervisors Richard Tankard and Jack White voted against. Northampton Sheriff Jack Robbins is a non-voting member.
Northampton has been considering instituting fees for the other inmates.
Crockett balked, however, saying in a September meeting that Accomack never had charged Northampton to incarcerate its inmates back when Northampton was having jail problems.
In a letter last Saturday, Northampton Supervisor Richard Tankard took exception, saying that it was always known that Accomack would pay for inmates beyond those five.
Northampton supervisors invited Sheriff Jack Robbins to attend a work session later this month to address the matter.
Tankard presented budget information for the regional jail showing that operational costs for 100 inmates as a daily average is $31.93 per day while debt service cost is $27.40 per day -- totaling $59.33.
"As you can see, if we're not charging $60 per inmate, we're losing money," he said.
Barbour proposed that the sheriff's office be asked to explain "why Northampton County taxpayers should pay for housing Accomack prisoners at a reduced rate."
"We were told we would recoup costs -- this idea has just gone out the window, which is insane," Barbour said.
Crockett told the Accomack County Board of Supervisors last month that building an addition to the regional jail to take care of a growing Accomack inmate population will cost about $8 million, with half that cost reimbursed by the state. It would house up to 100 Accomack inmates.
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007710130302
Posted by lois at October 14, 2007 06:25 PM