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Linn County preliminarily approves $34.7 million sheriff's FY2027 budget amid rising jail costs and federal inmate revenue
Summary
Supervisors gave preliminary approval to the sheriff's FY2027 budget totaling $34,715,210 in appropriations and $6,515,844 in revenue, citing higher jail medical and food costs, overtime, and new costs tied to housing federal inmates under a U.S. Marshals IGA.
The Linn County Board of Supervisors preliminarily approved the sheriff's proposed FY2027 budget on Jan. 7 after a detailed presentation that highlighted rising jail-related costs and federal inmate contracts that offset part of the expense.
Dawn Shindrich, finance director, outlined the budget summary and noted the request exceeds general-fund guidelines by about $353,098, with most of the overage attributable to jail operations. The sheriff and agency leaders said several specific increases drove the request: an added $100,000 line to cover inmate medical care now billed to the county at Medicaid rates, higher food costs tied to a larger daily population, increased overtime driven by wage increases, and new communications costs (air cards) estimated at $28,000 when state funding for those items was reduced.
The sheriff's office also described its intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service, which staff said effectively provides $140 per inmate per day under the IGA; the office noted immigration/ICE detainees generally are held under the same federal arrangements but that ICE may impose different inspection expectations and standards. "We have a $100,000 allocated in there for this FY '27 budget" for inmate medical care, the presenter said.
Board members sought clarification that the county's contract is with the U.S. Marshals Service (and not directly with ICE) and discussed inspection requirements and potential facility upgrades that could be required for immigration detainees. The board also discussed potential revenue-raising options, including increased patrol-contract billing rates to cities and outreach to local entities that might share costs for 911 or dispatch services.
After questions and discussion, the board moved and seconded a motion to preliminarily approve total appropriations of $34,715,210 and revenues of $6,515,844 for the sheriff's office; the motion passed by voice vote.
