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Jefferson County jail board considers raising out‑of‑county inmate housing rate
Summary
At a Jefferson County Jail Board meeting, officials discussed raising the per‑day charge for housing out‑of‑county inmates from $65 to $75 (with some members suggesting $80). No formal motion was made; routine minutes and financial reports were approved.
At a Jefferson County Jail Board meeting, members discussed increasing the daily charge for housing out‑of‑county inmates from the current $65 per day to $75, with one member suggesting $80 as an alternative.
The discussion centered on covering rising costs and staffing impacts. Brandon, identified in the meeting as the county sheriff, said, "It's currently $65 a day," and that he had "been looking at, hopefully, 75," which he described as roughly a 15% increase intended to better cover utilities and food service. Board members also discussed making the initial 72 hours more expensive to cover immediate costs and transportation responsibilities.
Board members pressed for operational details before voting. Officials said neighboring Class‑6 counties are charging between $65 and $75 and that some counties raised rates in the last year. The jail's current staffing, the sheriff said, "can cover the increase," and the facility can accommodate roughly 175–180 inmates comfortably before requiring major re‑shuffling; one speaker estimated the current population at about 109, which was discussed as an approximate figure.
No formal rate change was proposed or adopted at the meeting. Members agreed to continue the discussion and said they would consider putting a motion forward at a subsequent meeting. The session did approve routine items: acceptance of the previous meeting minutes, the jail board report for May 2025, and the May 2025 financial report during roll call.
Votes at a glance - Motion to accept minutes from the previous meeting — approved (mover/second not specified). - Motion to accept the jail board report for May 2025 as presented — approved (mover/second not specified). - Motion to accept the May 2025 financial report as presented — approved by roll call: Mr. Hams: yes; Mr. North: yes; Mr. Bartley: yes; Mr. Weaver: yes. - Motion to adjourn the meeting — approved (mover/second not specified).
The board did not set an effective date or adopt a final rate; members said they will revisit the proposal with more details on staffing, transport responsibilities, and comparisons with neighboring counties at a future meeting.
