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Board approves $582,000 transfer for Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center costs
Summary
The Board of Supervisors approved a jail fund transfer requested by the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center to cover inmate insurance, pharmacy, food and temporary nursing costs; roll‑call vote was unanimous.
Frederick County supervisors approved a jail fund transfer request at the March 26 meeting to move $582,000 within the jail fund to cover unbudgeted or rising costs at the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center.
Why it matters: county and jail board members said unexpected medical and staffing needs at the jail — such as pharmacy costs tied to special health conditions and temporary nursing coverage for vacancies — drove the request. The superintendent and jail board finance committee said this move avoids a mid‑year service disruption and that the facility has historically reconciled such transfers at year-end.
Clay Corbin, superintendent of the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center, told the board the transfer covers four categories: Anthem (incarcerated health insurance) and pharmacy costs, food service, and temporary nurse staffing. Corbin said the facility’s budget is adopted on an assumption set months in advance and that medical needs, case mix and count of inmates can cause large variability in these line items. Corbin also said the jail has five nursing vacancies and the transfer will pay for temporary nursing while recruitment continues.
Supervisor McCann Slaughter, who serves on the jail board’s finance committee, described the committee’s review and noted the jail has in prior years temporarily used fund balance and then restored it at year end — a pattern the jail leaders seek to avoid where possible. The superintendent said one prior example was a roughly $847,000 fund-balance transfer that was replenished by year-end.
The board approved the transfer by roll call. Supervisors voting aye included Supervisor Jewell, Supervisor Dunn, Supervisor Wells, Vice Chair, Supervisor Lockridge, Supervisor Leerro and the chair (recorded as aye). Following the vote staff noted the action moves funds within the jail’s budget and does not require additional local taxpayer appropriation beyond existing jail fund balances.
Ending: The transfer was approved; the jail superintendent and board finance committee said they will continue to monitor medical and staffing lines and return if further adjustments are needed.
