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Committee backs one-year extension of GTL phone contract that raises inmate-telephone commission
Summary
The committee advanced a one-year extension of the Sheriff's inmate-telephone contract with Cobaltel Link (GTL), increasing the commission to the inmate welfare fund from 60% to 65% and adding roughly $60,000 annually; the committee moved the amended resolution forward with budget-analyst concurrence.
The Budget and Finance Committee on Nov. 13 advanced a resolution retroactively authorizing a one-year extension of the Sheriff's inmate-telephone contract with Cobaltel Link (commonly known as GTL), which would raise the commission remitted to the inmate welfare fund from 60% to 65% and increase commission revenue by an estimated $60,000 a year.
A Sheriff's representative summarized the amendment: the requested one-year extension would increase the commission by 5 percentage points "from 60 to 65%," producing approximately $60,000 more per year to the inmate welfare fund. Last week the Sheriff’s office provided amended resolution text and the committee accepted the previously negotiated amendments.
Supervisor Marr asked how many inmates have children; the Sheriff’s representative said "approximately 40 percent" of the population has children, which the speaker said motivates investment in family visiting services and programs.
Budget analyst Mr. Rose reported the committee had accepted earlier recommendations; the committee moved the resolution forward with the committee’s recommendation and recorded no public comment opposing the extension.
Next steps: the amended resolution will advance to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration.
