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Sheriff and jail commander cite wage-driven costs, rising medical and training expenses and boarding revenue gains
Summary
The county jail budget proposal shows a 6.7% increase driven mainly by wages and benefits; jail leadership is pursuing boarding contracts (including a pending federal contract) to offset costs and described medical, training and equipment pressures ahead of 2026.
Jail command presented the Pine County Board of Commissioners with the 2026 jail and court-security budgets, describing higher personnel costs, medical expenses and a plan to grow boarding revenue.
The jail proposal shows a total increase of 6.7 percent for operations (jail and court security combined). Command estimated a change of approximately $329,096 in the jail operations budget (the presentation listed the change as "$329.09 68"); within that total, wage increases accounted for roughly $149,315 (about a 5.1% wage increase) and benefits rose by roughly $140,000 (about a 13% increase in the county's share itemized in the presentation). Commanders said benefits increased in part due to higher county contributions and family-coverage elections.
Command said medical services are the largest operational pressure; a single hospital stay can significantly affect the medical line. The jail is negotiating a 1'to'year-and-a-half contract with a medical provider that the commander said might allow medical costs to remain flat for 2026, but final contract numbers were pending.
The jail reported active efforts to increase boarding revenue. Command said the facility received about $6,000 in boarding revenue in the first half of the year and $24,000 in July alone. A federal boarding contract (signed on the county side, pending final appropriation) is expected to begin Aug. 1 and the jail plans to start with an average of five federal boarders to preserve staffing safety while growing revenue. The jail noted a work-release/DOC boarding trend is also contributing to increased revenue.
Commanders also raised operational notes: canteen and communications revenue and expenses are largely offset where receipts feed the fund balance (cited fund balance about $267,098 projected to $297,098 midyear), training and equipment needs are higher because much of the staff has less than two years of experience, and some capital equipment (kitchen steamer) is old and may need replacement.
Commanders flagged population and classification pressures: average daily population in July was 54 (June 44, May 42), the jail is licensed for 131 beds, and several individuals on long psychiatric holds remain in custody because treatment placements are not available (one example cited a person at 785 days in custody while suitable placement was sought).
Ending: Command asked the board to consider boarding revenue opportunities and to allow cautious budgeting for wages, benefits and medical, noting that boarding income can offset costs but staffing and medical liability remain central concerns.
