Russell County fiscal court hears jail report showing $129,350 monthly shortfall; approves $50,000 transfer

The Russell County Fiscal Court accepted a monthly detention-center report showing a wide gap between reported receipts and expenses and approved a $50,000 transfer from the General Fund to the jail fund.

Chief Deputy Jailer McGowan read the facility’s May financials, listing receipts (including a $75,000 transfer from General recorded among deposits) that summed to $20,395.11 and expenses of $149,745.26, producing a negative variance of $129,350.15 for the month. McGowan also reported an average daily inmate population of 103 and 70 hours of overtime for the month; as of the report the jail held 96 inmates (38 state inmates, 18 from Clinton County and 40 from Russell County).

The court voted unanimously to accept the detention-center report (motion by Magistrate Mickey Garner; second by Magistrate Steve Richardson). Later in the meeting the court approved a separate motion to transfer $50,000 from the General Fund to the jail fund (motion by Magistrate Garner; second by Magistrate Terry Waddell). All voting members present voted in favor of both actions.

Judge Randy Marcum presided over the actions and called attention to the jail’s operating shortfall during the meeting’s financial items. The detention-center report presented receipts, expense line items and inmate counts but did not provide an expanded narrative of planned operational changes or a multi-month financial forecast.

The vote to transfer $50,000 provides near-term support to cover obligations at the facility; no further budget adjustments or a detailed repayment plan were stated at the meeting. The court’s approval of the transfer and acceptance of the report conclude the fiscal actions recorded at the June 9 session on jail finances.