Regional jail board hears staffing and budget update; state budget language could put per-diem revenue at risk

The Prince William Manassas Regional Jail Board reviewed January operational and budget figures, including staffing, training and projected revenues, at its public meeting. Board staff reported the facility’s operational capacity is 871, management capacity 1,320, and recent average daily population figures included a six‑month ADP of 556 and a prior‑year ADP of 551.

Board presenter (Speaker 4) said the complex average daily population in November was 559, with a monthly high of 580 on Nov. 13, and December’s complex ADP was 545, with a high of 564 on Dec. 16. The presenter noted 82 vacancies remain and summarized training completions: 74 staff completed TASER recertification, 10 received new TASER certification, seven staff completed master jail officer training, 14 completed advanced Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training and four new staff completed critical incident intervention training. The presenter also said the ADC recorded no substantiated PREA allegations for November–December and that since Oct. 19, 2021, 845 boxes of Narcan have been distributed to released inmates; 76 inmates are currently on medication‑assisted treatment in the facility.

Why it matters: staffing levels, training and treatment programs affect daily operations, inmate care and potential costs. The board discussed recruitment strategies and advertising for open positions and a planned lobby renovation; staff said a pre‑construction meeting is scheduled for Jan. 30, the bid opened Jan. 10 and the bid closes Feb. 13.

On budget, Miss Quicke (Speaker 2) told the board the jail expects to exceed budgeted revenue by about $1.7 million as of Dec. 31 and that year‑to‑date expenditures represented about 56.3% of the annual budget with half the fiscal year elapsed. She reported ICE/Homeland Security billing was minimal in recent months (one day billed in October for $84.63 and 12 days billed in November totaling about $1,015.56). Quicke also noted the county Board of Supervisors approved funding for a lease of the Piedmont Building on West Street; the lease began Jan. 1 and staff expect to move operations for training and professional standards there on or about March 1.

On agency fund balances, Quicke said the commissary closed Dec. 31 with a cash balance of roughly $2,005,000 and that inmate trust rose from about $93,000 in November to about $140,000 in December. She described commissary spending for the period as approximately $307,000 (about 28% of the commissary budget) and said there were no single commissary disclosures between $2,500 and $4,000 in the two‑month reporting window.

Board members raised questions about Medicaid enrollment approval rates and state budget proposals. One board member asked why Medicaid approvals appear low after applications are submitted; a representative of the enrollment effort said federal eligibility rules—not local processing—often determine final approval and that, over four years, the program has recovered roughly $2.1 million through Medicaid enrollment efforts. Quicke warned that a provision described in the governor’s proposed 2025–26 budget—referred to in meeting materials as a "sanctuary city" clause governing ICE detainer compliance—could place state per‑diem revenue at risk. Quicke said the jail currently earns roughly $1.0 million to $1.2 million in annual per‑diem revenue that could be affected if new statutory conditions are imposed and compliance cannot be met.

The board requested follow‑up on the percentage of staff who have completed CIT training and clarification on distinctions between basic and advanced CIT training; staff agreed to provide those figures.

The board also discussed the state compensation board’s 3% across‑the‑board pay recommendation for state‑supported positions and said the ADC has an internal pay study in process that may affect future pay‑scale requests.

Next steps: staff said they will provide the requested CIT‑training completion percentage, continue recruitment and hiring efforts, and monitor the state budget process as the General Assembly considers amendments expected in February.