Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Jail Finances topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Russell County jail shows $115,564 operating shortfall for month; average population 95
Summary
Jailer Dunbar reported March jail receipts of $87,244.44 and expenses of $202,808.51, producing a $115,564.07 deficit; average inmates were 95 and the court accepted the report unanimously.
Jailer Dunbar told the Russell County Fiscal Court on April 14 that the jail’s receipts for the month totaled $87,244.44 while expenses were $202,808.51, leaving a negative variance of $115,564.07. Dunbar said the facility’s average daily population for the month was 95, and that as of the meeting the jail housed 102 inmates (39 state inmates, 9 from Clinton County and 54 from Russell County). The report also listed overtime of 11.5 hours for the month.
Magistrate Terry Waddell moved to accept the detention center report and Magistrate Mickey Garner seconded; the court voted unanimously to accept the report. The minutes list line items in receipts including state inmate housing ($36,011.46), other county inmate housing ($30,354.24), HB 556 receipts ($2,734.00) and typical commissary and phone commissions.
Why it matters: the reported monthly shortfall reflects a substantial gap between the jail’s operating costs and collected receipts for the month and is the immediate fiscal reason the court later approved a $100,000 transfer from the General Fund to the Jail Fund.
What’s next: acceptance of the report was procedural; ongoing budget and transfer actions will determine how the county addresses recurring operational shortfalls.
