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Washington County debate over proposed jail per‑diem draws bipartisan municipal opposition
Summary
A proposed ordinance to charge municipalities a daily fee for housing prisoners prompted sustained debate at the Washington County Finance & Budget Committee. Mayors and municipal staff warned the rate would be hard to budget, argued state law limits use to actual costs, and the sponsor later withdrew the proposal for further study.
Justice of the Peace J.P. Lemming introduced an ordinance proposing a daily per‑diem charge to municipalities for housing prisoners, touching off an extended countywide exchange and heavy public comment at the Nov. 12 finance and budget committee meeting.
Supporters said the county must identify sustainable ways to cover growing jail costs. Lemming said the daily fee proposal was intended to spur discussion and analysis: “We have a problem down at the jail…we need to come up with different funding methods,” he told the committee. The comptroller later said the Association of Counties’ audit methodology…
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