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Simpson County approves jail medical contract and budget moves as jail costs rise
Summary
The Simpson County Fiscal Court approved a renewed jail medical services contract with an approximately $8,800 increase, acknowledged the FY25-26 jail budget (budgeting fewer state inmates), and approved a $176,418 cash transfer and multiple interdepartmental budget transfers to cover expenses.
Simpson County Fiscal Court on April 1 approved a renewed jail medical services contract and a series of budget transfers to cover rising jail costs and other department needs.
The court approved a contract with Comprehensive Correctional Care for jail medical services; officials noted the new agreement reflects about an $8,800 increase from last year, which county leaders attributed to higher insurance and medical-treatment costs. The vendor amount appears on the claims list as $42,289.79 in the court's bills and claims for the period.
Judge/Executive Mason Bames and Jailer Eric Vaughn reviewed the proposed Jail Budget for fiscal year 2025-26. The budget acknowledges a reduced projection of state inmates — about 151 this year versus 180 last year — and an approximate $100,000 increase in transfers from the general fund to cover jail costs compared with the prior year. Vaughn said he is pursuing housing revenue from other local jails undergoing renovation to help offset costs.
The court approved a cash transfer of $176,418 from the General Fund to the Jail Fund (motion by Scott Poston, second by Myron Thurman; recorded vote: Yes-All). The court also approved several specific line-item transfers among departments, shifting funds to economic development site prep, fire department staffing and utilities, animal shelter services and supplies, county clerk equipment, and jail personnel lines; the minutes contain the detailed list of transfers and amounts.
On staffing, the jail confirmed a reduction of two full-time positions replaced by part-time positions to reduce insurance and benefit costs. Treasurer Nicole Law told the court that with one quarter of the fiscal year remaining, "it's going to be close" whether transfers will cover the amounts budgeted, indicating fiscal tightness going into the new fiscal year.
The court approved Certificate of Deposit renewals and authorized the county treasurer and judge/executive to sign the paperwork. Fiscal Court also approved bills and claims as presented; the minutes list dozens of vendors and amounts and record large capital claims in the period under review.
The minutes show the court acknowledged and received the proposed Jail Budget FY25-26 (no final appropriation action recorded in the minutes beyond acknowledgement and budgeting assumptions). County leaders plan to track inmate housing revenue and transfers closely as the fiscal year progresses.
