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Sheriff warns of jail costs as DOC backlog and medical expenses push budget lines higher
Summary
Sheriff Thomas told council that rising fuel, ammunition and inmate-medication costs are driving budget increases; the county continues to hold sentenced inmates because of state DOC capacity constraints and expects reimbursement timing from the state to affect the general fund.
Sheriff Thomas reported to the council that DeKalb County is facing higher costs in several public-safety accounts as the sheriff's office adjusts for training, ammunition and medical expenses tied to the jail.
Key changes the sheriff outlined for the 2026 budget include a request for a 5% cost‑of‑living increase for staff, an increase to petroleum products (gas) to reflect 2024/2025 spending trends, and a larger ammunition and training account to support planned SWAT development and expanded training. The sheriff also said the jail medical contractor (Quality Correctional Care) restructured billing so that the county must cover inmate medications directly; to cover that shift the sheriff's office budgeted additional funds under the institutional medical account.
On jail population, the sheriff described a statewide operational constraint: the Department of Correction is not accepting new inmates until it frees capacity, and counties are directed when to transport sentenced inmates to DOC. The sheriff said DeKalb County has experienced months in which sentenced inmates remained in the county jail pending DOC intake, which increases local jail costs. Council members asked the sheriff to notify them when state reimbursements arrive; the sheriff said the county is still owed a material payment related to state reimbursements for maintaining inmates.
The sheriff also discussed capital needs: a plan for five replacement patrol vehicles (estimate shown on the five‑year plan), outfitting costs for patrol cars, and continued recruitment needs (three open deputy positions at the time of the presentation).
No formal policy change or ordinance was adopted at the July 10 meeting. Council members and the sheriff emphasized monitoring state reimbursement timing and reviewing the jail’s operational costs ahead of the final budget and appropriation hearings.
