Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Jail Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Siteside jail requests $440,000 increase; board tables budget decision to meet with finance
Summary
Colonel Anthony Johnson of Siteside Regional Jail asked Greensville supervisors Sept. 2 for a county share increase of about $440,000 after contracted bed revenue from the U.S. Marshals dropped; the board voted to table the request pending a meeting with county finance staff to explore fund balance and payment options.
Colonel Anthony Johnson, representing Siteside Regional Jail, told the Greensville County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 2 that the jail needs a county budget amendment of roughly $440,000 to offset a sudden drop in contracted bed revenue, chiefly from U.S. Marshals transfers.
"The increase really just puts that back in line at where we were, prior to the US marshal and other contracts," Colonel Johnson said, describing recent months in which marshal-supplied detainee days fell from typical counts ("100 to 80 to 110") to as low as 24 at year-end. He said marshals' transfers are inconsistent week to week and that the jail has used contract beds to lower the city and county contribution in prior years.
The nut graf: The request would restore the county’s historical contribution level by inserting $440,000 into the jail budget; county finance staff told the board the money is not in the current fiscal-year budget and any one-time increase would likely come from fund balance unless reallocated from another line.
Board members pressed on timing and options. County Finance Director Cory Green said the county did not budget the $440,000 and that any immediate payment would likely have to come from fund balance. Colonel Johnson confirmed the jail could bill monthly and suggested a $75,000-per-month breakdown if the county preferred phased payments. Treasurer's office and fiscal-agent staff were present but said the jail maintains an independent budget and the fiscal agent accounts for county payments.
Supervisors asked whether the county would get refunds if contracted bed revenue later increased; Colonel Johnson said the jail had in past years used excess revenue to offset city and county contributions but could re-amend the budget later if revenues rose. After discussion, a motion to table the funding request until the board could meet with finance passed by roll call; staff will schedule a follow-up meeting to review fund balance, recurring expenses, and whether to provide any payment as a lump sum or in installments.
The record: No formal appropriation was made on Sept. 2; the board directed staff to convene a meeting with jail and finance staff to explore options before returning with a recommendation.
