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Russell County jail reports slight monthly shortfall, treasurer presents FY25–26 detention budget
Summary
The county jail reported receipts of $55,874.35 and expenses of $56,691.76 for the month (a $817.41 shortfall); the average daily population was 94 and the court received a presentation of the FY25–26 detention center budget, which Treasurer Kim Blanchet said must be presented before April 1 to comply with DLG.
Jailer Dunbar told the Russell County Fiscal Court that the detention center’s monthly receipts totaled $55,874.35 while expenses were $56,691.76, producing a net shortfall of $817.41 for the period. The jail’s monthly average population was 94 inmates. On the day of the meeting the jail held 37 state inmates, nine inmates from Clinton County and 54 Russell County inmates, a total the jail recorded as 100 inmates. The jail reported 39 hours of overtime for the month.
The receipts line items Jailer Dunbar read included State Inmate Housing ($39,121.38), Other County Inmate Housing ($10,654.00), booking fees and per diem and smaller revenue sources listed in the monthly statement. Line‑by‑line details were reported during the meeting.
County Treasurer Kim Blanchet presented the detention center budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and told the court no vote was required at the meeting; she said the budget must be presented to the court before April 1 to comply with Department for Local Government filing requirements. The presentation was informational; the minutes record no further action on the budget at this meeting.
Why this matters: jail population and cost pressures influence county budgets and staffing needs; a small monthly shortfall and reported overtime hours underscore those pressures even before the FY 2025–26 budget is finalized.
What happens next: Treasurer Blanchet’s presentation triggers the county’s budget process and required filings; the court did not vote on the FY25–26 jail budget at this meeting.
