Elkhart County Council approves sheriff requests to cover jail medical costs and keep inmate programming staff
Loading...
Summary
The council approved two sheriff funding requests: $675,000 from the general fund for unbudgeted correctional medical and food costs, and $112,305 from LIT special-purpose funds to keep two intensive caseworker positions after a state grant ended. Former participants and nonprofit partners testified in favor.
Elkhart County Council on Monday approved two appropriations requested by the sheriff—s office to cover rising correctional costs and preserve inmate programming.
Sheriff—s representative Jeff Siegel asked the council for $675,000 from the general fund to cover unexpected medical and food expenses at the county correctional facility, saying the "bulk of this is medical." Siegel offered examples of recent bills: $8,973 for treatment after a car crash, $18,480 for a broken jaw and a $21,000 bill for another individual, and said total annual medical costs for the facility approached $2,050,000. The council moved to approve the appropriation and the motion carried by voice vote.
Separately, the sheriff asked the council to appropriate $112,305 from the county—s local income tax (LIT) special-purpose fund to retain two intensive caseworker positions in the programming ward after the Indiana Department of Corrections removed a grant that had funded them. "We have been doing programming in the correctional facility since 2006," Siegel said, adding the program ward—s recidivism rate is 22 percent compared with a statewide rate of 36.5 percent for 2024.
Several current and former program participants and community partners urged the council to continue funding. Derek Boss, identifying himself as a former participant, said he marked his fourth year clean and credited the jail programs with helping him find work and stay sober. Corey Martin, executive director of the Elkhart County Jail Ministry, told the council that local partners such as Ivy Tech and Goshen College provide certified classes inside the jail and that reentry supports reduce recidivism.
Council members acknowledged the benefits of the programs but discussed a broader policy question about replacing grant-funded positions. One council member noted a long-standing principle that "when the grant goes away, the position goes away," but others said the county needed a policy to prioritize which grant-funded positions to continue. County officials said they would address grant-funded position priorities during budgeting for 2027.
Both appropriation requests were approved during the meeting. The sheriff—s office said the DOC had cut the grant statewide and that the request was to avoid losing programming that staff argued helps lower recidivism.
The council did not adopt a county-wide policy at the meeting; officials said they would consider policy and fiscal planning during the next budget cycle.
