Columbus council approves $2.7 million supplemental for sheriff’s jail costs; $665,000 from Community Care fund

Columbus City Council approved May 27 a supplemental appropriation of about $2.7 million to cover rising costs in the Muscogee County Jail through the end of fiscal 2025.

Finance Director Angelica Alexander and Sheriff Greg Countryman told council that higher inmate medical expenses, rising food costs and extraordinary personnel (primarily overtime) had pushed several budget lines past their appropriations. The council approved roughly $665,000 to cover outside medical and pharmaceutical bills for April 1–June 30 (to be paid from the Community Care/Indigent Care fund), about $256,000 to cover increased food costs and an estimated $1,840,000 to cover personnel costs (to be charged to the general fund), for a total supplemental request of approximately $2,761,000.

Alexander described the $665,000 as a best estimate to close out the fiscal year for outside medical and pharmaceutical costs, and she said the sheriff’s office would provide a category-level spreadsheet to the council. Sheriff Countryman said the jail’s population and the seriousness of some inmates’ medical needs had driven costs up; he described pharmaceutical cases (including high-cost specialty drugs) and overtime for staff covering an over-capacity facility as principal drivers.

Councilors debated funding sources and timing. Council approved the supplemental appropriation, with the medical/pharmaceutical portion coming from the Community Care (indigent care) fund and the remaining amounts charged to the general fund. Councilors asked for a written breakdown of the requested amounts and for staff to identify whether portions could be covered by other designated funds; staff said they would distribute detailed category numbers after the meeting.

Provenance: Discussion and motions appear in the May 27 meeting during the city manager and budget-review agenda items.