Council hears numbers on moving inmate commissary to Pinnacle Correctional Services; no vote taken

City police staff told the Sunnyside City Council on April 7 that shifting the city jail commissary to Pinnacle Correctional Services LLC would change the program's finances and reduce staff time, but the council deferred action for later consideration.

Police staff reviewed 2024 commissary figures: $100,778 in sales, $56,764 cost of goods and $44,014 gross profit. After accounting for corrections staff wages and benefits used to operate the current in-house commissary, staff estimated annual labor costs at about $54,637, creating a $10,623 operating loss under current practice. Under the Pinnacle model, staff said, transaction fees that already exist (about $3.50 or roughly 10%) would remain but outsourcing would convert the operation to "about a $20,000 profit" at current sales volumes.

Chief Rob Layman (police chief) explained operational differences: packaged deliveries would arrive like commercial shipments, an officer would check packing slips and distribute items, and the change would reduce staff time spent running the on-site store. He said the move would permit shift adjustments and could reduce daytime staff burdens related to commissary operations.

Councilors asked about residual staff duties and whether outsourcing would shift costs. Chief Layman said officers would still inspect packages and handle distribution but expected distribution to add only "10 or 15 additional minutes" to existing routines during meal service.

No formal motion was made and the council did not vote on the commissary contract at the study session. Staff said the presentation responded to questions from an earlier meeting and provided updated financial estimates for future action.