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Cumberland County right-sizes jail budget after loss of federal inmate revenue; 26 correction-officer positions frozen
Summary
Finance director told the committee the jail lost roughly $2.5 million in federal inmate revenue and the county has unfunded 26 correction-officer positions while hoping to negotiate a U.S. Marshals Service contract to return federal inmates in January.
Theresa Grover, Cumberland County finance director, told the Finance Committee on Dec. 19 that the jail budget was revised after a loss of federal inmate revenue. Grover said the county removed roughly $2.5 million in anticipated revenue from the jail budget and currently has about $1 million of jail revenue still included in the plan.
Grover said the county froze 26 correction-officer positions this past May; the roles remain on the books but are unfunded. "I do not see unfreezing the 26 positions," she said, adding that the county's hiring outcomes and current vacancy levels make immediate refilling unlikely.
The department is negotiating with the United States Marshals Service on two fronts: a higher per-diem rate and operational readiness for the Marshals to return federal detainees. Grover said the Marshals' timetable for returning inmates is "sometime in January," but added the decision is fully within the Marshals Service's discretion.
Committee members pressed for a clearer near-term projection and were told more detail should be available in the January'February review process. The finance presentation said the jail budget in the proposal currently factors only a 4 percent increase "by state statute" and will be revisited as the county gains clarity on federal contracts and staffing.
