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Madison County fiscal court urges Kentucky to pass bill to reimburse counties for jail costs
Summary
The Madison County Fiscal Court unanimously approved a resolution urging the Kentucky General Assembly to pass House Bill 557, which would require the Commonwealth to reimburse counties for the actual cost of holding convicted felony defendants who receive credit for time served and to incentivize regional jail authorities, citing rising local jail subsidies.
A resolution urging the Kentucky General Assembly to pass House Bill 557 was adopted Feb. 24 by the Madison County Fiscal Court, which said the measure would rebalance the fiscal burden of housing pretrial felony defendants.
The court’s reading and adoption of Resolution 2026-010 came after Jill introduced the text and outlined the bill’s provisions. “This is a resolution of the Madison County fiscal court urging the Kentucky General Assembly to pass House Bill 557,” Jill said, summarizing the document presented to the court.
In discussion, members emphasized the rising cost counties are carrying for jail operations. Judge Executive Reagan Taylor said local subsidies for jails have grown substantially in recent years and described the county’s current bill for jail-related general-fund subsidies: “Ours alone is right at $4,000,000,” Taylor said, noting that state reimbursements per inmate lag reported county costs.
The resolution asks the legislature to require the Commonwealth to reimburse counties at a rate based on actual cost when a defendant held pending trial is later convicted and receives credit for time served, to incentivize or expand regional jail authorities through grants, and to strengthen jail accountability and programming requirements. The resolution also directs the Madison County Clerk to transmit a copy to the county’s state House and Senate members.
Supporters framed the measure as a necessary correction to what they described as a growing transfer of state incarceration costs onto county budgets. Court members urged residents to contact state lawmakers in support; the resolution specifically referenced Representative Michael Meredith as the bill’s sponsor and noted county groups backing it.
The court adopted the resolution by roll-call vote. Clerk Barger recorded affirmative votes from Master Combs, Master Lockmiller, Master Hughes, Master Buckner and Judge Executive Reagan Taylor. The court directed the clerk to forward the resolution to the county’s members of the Kentucky General Assembly.
