Knox County Commission authorizes agreement to board inmates at 2 Bridges Regional Jail amid budget shortfall

The Knox County Commission voted 3–0 on Nov. 10 to allow the county administrator to execute an agreement to board Knox County inmates at 2 Bridges Regional Jail, after county staff warned the commission it cannot run the jail on last year’s budget and faces statutory caps on corrections spending.

Commission Chair (speaker 1) introduced the motion and framed the vote as an interim operational step to avoid an untenable fiscal position. Staff told commissioners that operating the jail as currently structured would push the corrections operating budget well above the statutory cap and that transferring some inmates to a regional facility would reduce per-inmate costs.

William Doyle, executive director of the National Correctional Employees, urged the commission to protect local staff and said four correctional officers had already resigned. "This looks like union busting," Doyle said, arguing the county had not properly negotiated with the union and warning that staff would not accept 45‑minute commutes to a different facility.

Colonel Bailey of 2 Bridges told the commission his authority could offer lateral transfers and honor current employees’ step placement and seniority where possible. Those representations, he said, would make some positions at 2 Bridges comparable in pay and benefits and could smooth transitions for employees who chose to move.

Sheriff (speaker 3) and county staff described the practical shape of the change: converting the county jail into a holding facility while boarding longer-stay inmates at 2 Bridges. Staff said the holding facility would have about 11 holding beds plus an additional short-duration section, and estimated that roughly 17 county positions would be required to staff a holding facility while the remainder could be considered for lateral transfers, reassignment or layoff depending on bargaining outcomes.

Corrections staff and officers pressed the commission for concrete protections for employees. Officer Quinn (speaker 10) said many colleagues were already leaving, and added, "You're asking people who have little kids to commute another 45 minutes — that's taking from their family time." Doyle and other union representatives said impact bargaining and clear layoff/hire-back policies would be essential.

Supporters of the agreement said the county faces a structural problem: state-mandated standards and a corrections cap have driven operating costs higher while state funding has remained flat. Staff emphasized that moving some inmates to a more modern facility reduces the county’s per-inmate operating cost and may reduce future capital pressure on the aging county jail.

After extended discussion — which covered staffing numbers, lateral-hire offers, potential savings and the need for legislative fixes to the budget committee quorum — the commission called the motion and the chair announced, "3 in favor, none opposed." The commission then moved to schedule follow-up meetings to flesh out implementation details.

The action permits the county administrator to execute the boarding agreement; commissioners said additional operational decisions (including impact bargaining with the union and any required capital repairs to the holding facility) would be handled by administration and be returned to the commission for further review.