Public Safety Committee backs reduced Summit County jail-bed contract to match current needs

The Public Safety Committee voted to suspend the rules and give a favorable report for an ordinance that would allow the mayor or the mayor's designee to enter agreements with Summit County for the housing of City of Akron prisoners.

Director of Law Demetz presented the proposed jail-bed agreement, saying the previous long-standing contract guaranteed 100 beds and cost $4,928,697 in 2024. Demetz told the committee the city's actual need has declined because more people receive summonses instead of immediate custody and average stays have shortened to about three days. "So we haven't really needed a 100 beds. So we're down to approximately 40 beds on a regular basis," Demetz said, and noted the proposed contract provides 40 beds at a cost of $2,976,300.

Committee members expressed support for efforts to align costs with actual usage. The committee moved and seconded to suspend the rules and issue a favorable report on the ordinance; members voted in favor by voice and the chair closed the meeting.

The favorable report advances the ordinance for consideration by the full council. The agreement, if adopted, would reduce the city's guaranteed bed commitment and corresponding guaranteed payment to Summit County; committee discussion emphasized cost savings by matching capacity to present demand but did not include contract text or long-term financial modeling in the meeting record.