RCCI cost review: keeping inmate crews remains slightly cheaper than hiring staff or contracting; commissioners asked for more data on alternatives

Administrator Allen and Warden Wharton Joseph presented an updated fiscal review of the Richmond County Correctional Institution (RCCI) and a crew‑by‑crew cost‑benefit analysis during the fiscal 2026 budget hearing.

What the review found The RCCI operating budget for 2026 was presented at just over $5.9 million. Using a 230‑inmate contract baseline, the department calculated a full average daily cost of about $70.46 per inmate. The state per‑diem for housed state prisoners rose from $24 to $30 this year; the change, combined with reimbursements from GDOT and the Board of Education for detail officers, reduces Augusta’s net general‑fund exposure to an estimated roughly $3.3 million for 2026 after adjustments.

Staffing and crew usage RCCI is budgeted for 27 inmate work crews but, according to the presentation, persistent vacancies and medical/training restrictions mean the facility typically deploys a maximum of about 15 crews on any given day. Administrators said eight detail officer positions are vacant and several officers are in training or medically restricted, which limits the number of crews available and reduces the value Augusta receives from the inmate‑labor…