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Sheriff warns jail food and medical costs could require roughly $286,000 in amendments to finish the year
Summary
Hickman County sheriff reported rising inmate food and medical costs and told commissioners the county may need about $286,000 more to cover expenses through July; commissioners asked for a historical quarterly inmate-population and cost analysis.
The Hickman County sheriff told the public-safety committee the jail’s food and medical expenses are projected to require roughly $286,000 in additional funding to cover costs through the end of the fiscal year.
Sheriff’s office figures supplied at the meeting showed the county’s corrections operation returned about $73,484 to the general fund over the last three months but faces large medical and food bills in coming months. The sheriff said the county’s insurance policy has a per-person deductible of $20,000 that must be met before insurers pay large medical claims; several recent transports and hospitalizations have raised medical expenses and increased projected costs.
Commissioners asked whether the increase reflected a higher inmate population or cost-per-inmate increases. The sheriff said both factors contribute: higher long-term medical expenses for some inmates, occasional air transports and an increased daily cost-per-inmate in recent months. Commissioners asked the sheriff’s office to prepare a short historical analysis of the jail population and associated costs by quarter for the last three to four years; they said the data would inform next week’s budget-committee discussion and any proposed budget amendments.
The meeting transcript records no formal committee vote on a budget amendment during the session. Commissioners directed staff to present the requested population and cost history at the next budget meeting.
