Strafford County jail boarding of federal detainees yields revenue, officials say; members ask for outside audit

County jail leadership told the Strafford County Delegation Executive Committee on Feb. 20 that housing federal detainees has been a net revenue source, but committee members pressed for more detailed historic accounting and an independent audit.

The jail superintendent explained the variability in length of stay for immigration detainees—some arrive having pleaded guilty and later seek asylum or appeal—and said that, through volume and a negotiated rate, the county receives approximately $150 per boarded detainee. "We're making substantial gains by housing individuals inside our facility," the superintendent said.

Members raised apparent discrepancies between per-inmate cost estimates and boarding reimbursements, and asked for an analysis of boarding revenue since the county began the program. One member asked whether the county was actually breaking even or making money; the superintendent and administration said boarding has contributed net revenue that helps offset county taxes.

Representative (speaker 14) offered to have the county auditor produce an outside analysis of boarding revenue and its fiscal impact so the committee can evaluate claims that boarding offsets other costs. Members also requested a new column in the revenue reports showing annual boarding receipts from ICE and other federal sources dating back to 2018.

Administration noted that fixed costs—building depreciation and minimum staffing for classification, medical, and separation requirements—limit how much staffing could be cut if boarding ceased, so the revenue impact is not a 1:1 reduction in county costs.

The committee asked for the auditor’s analysis and historic revenue columns to be provided at the earliest date for committee review.