Jail trust: budget unresolved without Oklahoma City agreement; MAT program underway

Representatives from the jail trust told the Oklahoma County Board of County Commissioners on June 17, 2025, that the trust cannot finish its budget for the next fiscal year until it reaches an agreement with the Oklahoma City Police Department, which provides the bulk of the jail’s intake.

The update, delivered during the commissioners’ regular meeting, matters because the county’s detention center depends on municipal contracts for most of its revenue; the trust’s presenters said the absence of a renewal with Oklahoma City prevents finalizing projected revenue and expenditures.

Chris Sherman, speaking for the presenting group, said, “We do not currently have an agreement with Oklahoma City Police Department for the next fiscal year. So until we get that in place, we can't finish our budget because they are the majority of our intake.” Sherman added that Oklahoma City is current on payments for the present fiscal year but that negotiations on a new contract remain unresolved. “I don't know where they are in the negotiations on that process,” he said.

Another presenter identified in the meeting as Greg reported the share of inmates from Oklahoma City: “they're about 60%.” Sherman and staff described how per‑inmate revenue varies by length of stay and payer: “Last year, it was $211 for the first day, and now it's gone down to $197,” Sherman said, noting the per‑day amount falls over time to about $66 by the third day. He also reported that when the state Department of Corrections houses people in the facility the county receives $32 per day from the state, a figure the presenters said does not cover the county’s standard daily cost.

Sherman and other presenters described facility modifications tied to treatment changes. In pod 2 the trust removed portions of cell doors and replaced them with glass to create an unobstructed line of sight; the presenters said the work was done to allow a medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) or medically assisted treatment (MAT) program inside the facility. Sherman described MOUD as a program in which residents “are prescribed Suboxone and things like that to make sure that they're healthy while they're in the facility.”

No formal action was taken on the update; commissioners did not vote on the budget during the presentation. Commissioner or staff questions were limited and the presenters left the meeting after answering clarifying questions. The trust representatives did not provide a timetable for concluding negotiations with Oklahoma City or for the budget’s completion.

The jail trust’s budget and contract talks with Oklahoma City remain pending, and the county will receive further updates as negotiations and internal budget work continue.