Sheriff asks commissioners to fund courthouse security, more jail staff as jail revenues could offset costs

The Clay County Board of Commissioners on an unspecified date heard a budget presentation from Sheriff Andy that included requests for courthouse security staff, a part‑time front‑desk position, expanded jail staffing and equipment to outfit additional patrol vehicles.

Sheriff Andy told commissioners the courthouse security wages line in his proposed budget would total $127,800 if the county funds the positions. He also asked for a part‑time receptionist position he estimated at about $22,000–$23,000 a year and said the combined new personnel requests on the sheriff's side total roughly $150,541. Andy said the personnel request for the jail side included roughly $60,000 for a program/director position focused on inmate services and reentry support if the county chose not to pursue outside grant funding.

The sheriff described equipment and vehicle costs tied to any personnel increases, saying equipping a patrol vehicle (radios and installations) runs about $10,000 per car. He said next year is a planned two‑car purchase cycle for the fleet and that outfitting one additional vehicle would be required if the county adds courthouse security deputies.

On jail operations, Andy said he has raised the inmate meals line from about $30,000 this year to $260,000 in the proposed budget to match higher per‑diem feeding costs and the facility's expanded capacity. He described a revenue strategy that depends on boarding inmates from other counties: if the jail can board about 20 outside inmates in addition to local prisoners, he estimated that could produce roughly $650,000–$700,000 a year in revenue. He said Clay County’s current boarding rate is $80 per day and suggested moving the rate to about $90–$95 per day after the new facility opens; he noted neighboring rates for context (Minnehaha County about $107, Yankton about $105, Union about $85).

Andy also discussed staffing strategy for courthouse security, saying his worst‑case personnel cost (two deputies and associated backfill) was included in the $127,800 figure and that a lower‑cost approach — part‑time or retired officers — may be possible but is difficult given the local labor pool. He told commissioners that some requested positions could be deferred if the board does not want to fund courthouse security this year.

On jail population and revenue, Andy said the county historically ran mid‑teens in local inmates but has reached as high as 30 during peak periods. He said his financial modeling assumes boarding 20 nonlocal inmates would substantially offset staffing increases and that revenues from boarding could be used to operate or improve the law enforcement center under state rules and the county’s project accounting.

Commissioners asked about alternatives and contingent savings if positions are not funded; Andy responded with line‑item impacts (for example, cutting courthouse security would reduce the overall sheriff increase by roughly $127,800). No formal action on the sheriff’s requests was taken at the meeting.

Ending: The commission kept the sheriff’s requests under consideration; staff and commissioners indicated they would reconcile details with finance staff and revisit the requests as the overall county budget conversations continue.