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Commissioners approve county jail meal contract at $9.25 per meal; budget adjustment delayed
Summary
After negotiations with a nursing‑home provider, commissioners approved a new jail food‑service contract averaging $9.25 per meal; staff said the change could raise the jail food line from $150,000 to about $182,317 if the facility is at full capacity, but budget moves will be revisited at year end.
An agency official presented a revised contract for the Glacier County jail’s meals on Nov. 6, and commissioners approved the agreement "as presented." The presenter said the nursing‑home provider initially sought $13.25 per meal but, after negotiation with the sheriff’s office, agreed to an averaged price of $9.25 per meal.
The presenter explained the county currently budgets $150,000 annually for jail meals. Using an estimate of 18 inmates at full capacity (three meals per day across 365 days), the presenter calculated about 19,710 meals per year; at $9.25 per meal that equates to approximately $182,317 annually for a full‑jail scenario, an increase of roughly $32,317 over the current budget line.
County staff and the presenter said they will not move money immediately; instead, they will monitor population and costs through the remainder of the year and, if necessary, adjust the budget near year‑end to reflect actual expenditures. The presenter noted the county is bound by statute to feed inmates but said the nursing‑home arrangement remains cost‑effective and convenient compared with alternatives such as transporting meals from other facilities.
Commissioner (speaker 1) moved to approve the contract "as presented;" the motion was seconded by speaker 8 and passed on the board’s voice vote. In the same update, the presenter announced the sheriff’s office hired a long‑time detention officer, Sean Auger, to fill an open deputy position.
Next steps: staff will monitor inmate population and expenditures through year‑end and, if required, return with proposed budget adjustments.
