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Warren County jail budget: county assistance projected to rise as state inmate numbers fall
Summary
The jailer presented a proposed $12.4 million budget for the Warren County Regional Jail for FY 2025–26 that would require an estimated $3.6 million in fiscal court assistance; commissioners discussed inmate population shifts, state litigation, and costs driving the increase.
Jailer Harmon told the Warren County Fiscal Court Tuesday that the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget for the Warren County Regional Jail is $12.4 million and projects fiscal court assistance of $3.6 million, about 29 percent of the jail's total budget.
Harmon said several factors are driving the county's increased assistance request: a 3 percent cost‑of‑living adjustment for staff, estimated inmate medical costs of about $238,000, and startup requests for road crews tied to related grants. He also warned of a roughly $200,000 revenue loss linked to having fewer state inmates housed at the county jail.
The jailer described litigation between county jails and the Kentucky Department of Corrections that has affected placement and per‑diem arrangements and is now in the appeals process. Harmon said the litigation and Department of Corrections placement practices have reduced the number of state inmates in county custody, shifting costs to counties statewide.
When asked, Harmon said the jail population the morning of the meeting was 650 inmates; he said about 80–82 percent of annual intakes historically came from Bowling Green Police Department bookings. Magistrates discussed options to seek state relief and urged continued work with the jailers' association and state legislators to address per‑diem and placement rules.
The court made the proposed jail budget part of the record without further action. Harmon and staff offered to provide more detailed budget documentation; magistrates thanked jail staff and acknowledged the countywide nature of the problem.
Votes at a glance: the court also approved routine agenda items and claims during the session, including minutes, personnel changes, departmental reports, a vehicle lease amendment, grant applications, elevator repairs and several volunteer fire department reports. All recorded roll calls were unanimous yes votes.
