Commissioners authorize $9,000 transfer to cover inmate medical staffing through year end

Walker County Commissioners Court on June 2 authorized a transfer of $9,000 from commissary funds to the inmate medical budget so the jail can keep two nurses and a medical director position through the end of the year.

Sheriff's office leadership explained the change followed a staffing reclassification: a medical corrections officer role was eliminated in a recent restructuring, and the department hired a second nurse. With the second nurse position remaining, the sheriff asked the court to use commissary funds to cover the immediate shortfall until the next budget cycle.

The sheriff said the requested $9,000 would “get us through the end of the year,” and staff confirmed the amount would be carried into next year’s budget request. County staff and commissioners discussed alternatives: restoring the position by funding an existing jailer slot versus relying on part‑time medical assistant money (currently used to pay overtime for nurses). County staff noted that if the jail fills the vacant jailer position, the $9,000 would be sufficient to cover the interim period.

A commissioner proposed a motion to authorize the transfer of $9,000 from commissary funds to the inmate medical budget; another commissioner seconded the motion and it carried. Commissioners also discussed possible longer-term funding options — figures mentioned included a rough planning number of up to $30,000 to $50,000 if the county chooses to permanently add positions to maintain two nurses and a medical assistant.

The court recorded that the transfer should be from commissary funding and that staff should include the long-term staffing request in the next county budget submission.