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Pulaski County jailer presents proposed budget, cites program revenue and 'rocket docket' savings
Summary
Jailer presented a proposed budget to the court, noting a state per‑diem increase to about $38.35, reapproval of a program per‑diem (House Bill 556), an ongoing U.S. HHS reentry grant and an estimated $8.3 million saved locally since 2016 through expedited case processing ('rocket docket').
Mr. Anthony, Pulaski County jailer, presented the jail's proposed budget to the court and outlined revenue sources and program activity that the jail expects to rely on in the coming year.
Anthony said the state increased the state inmate per‑diem to about $38.35 for this year and that the legislature reapproved House Bill 556, which provides a per‑diem for inmates who complete approved programs such as MRT and anger-management. He said the jail expects to expand approved programming pending Department of Corrections approval of curricula and that the jail will continue to work with workforce development partners to increase revenue from state program per‑diems and related sources.
The jailer also reported continued U.S. Health and Human Services grant support to fund a staff member who helps soon‑to‑be‑released inmates obtain IDs, Social Security cards, birth certificates and access to housing or medical insurance. Much jail equipment and vehicles have been purchased with commissary or grant funds in recent years, Anthony said.
Anthony highlighted the county's "rocket docket" initiative, telling the court: "Since about 2016, we can document ... we've saved the Pulaski County taxpayers about $8.3 million" by expediting cases so inmates become state inmates quicker and the state assumes housing costs earlier in the process.
Anthony said the proposed jail budget (presented for review and not for immediate vote) totals about $5.9 million with an expected county contribution of about $1.3 million and roughly $4 million in anticipated revenue. He said the jail plans to reimburse the county about $100,000 from commissary funds for medical expenses and to use commissary funds to pay additional staff salaries.
The proposed budget will be reviewed by the court's budget committee before any final vote.
