Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Corrections Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners authorize sheriff to set daily inmate cost figure to maximize state reimbursement
Summary
The board adopted Resolution No. 226 authorizing the sheriff to establish a daily cost rate used to seek maximum reimbursement from the Kansas Department of Corrections after staff reported Johnson County’s 2024 cost per inmate per day was $229.12 compared with KDOC’s maximum reimbursement of $112.82.
Johnson County commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution No. 226 authorizing the sheriff to establish an appropriate daily rate of compensation for housing and maintenance of prisoners from the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC).
Sheriff’s staff explained KDOC sets a maximum reimbursement ceiling ($112.82 per inmate per day, as stated in the meeting) and will only pay that amount if a county’s declared daily cost meets or exceeds the ceiling. Staff reported Johnson County’s 2024 per‑inmate daily cost was $229.12 while the current reimbursement the county had been receiving was $70.82. Adopting the resolution enables the sheriff to set the declared cost figure so the county can pursue the higher reimbursement level.
Commissioners asked whether the change reflected differences in inmate population, rising costs for medical, mental-health and food services, and whether the state’s reimbursement methodology takes county service levels into account. Staff said the per‑day figure increases when inmate populations are lower (fixed costs spread across fewer inmates) and identified inflationary pressures on services; they could not detail KDOC’s exact formula and suggested further legislative monitoring.
The board voted 7–0 to adopt the resolution, and commissioners encouraged staff to provide opportunities for board members to tour detention facilities and continue legislative outreach on reimbursement formulas.
