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Howard County Council approves additional appropriations, including $600,000 to cover out-of-county inmate housing
Summary
The Howard County Council approved Ordinance 2026-HCC11 adding appropriations across several funds — including a $600,000 request to cover inmates housed outside the county — and adopted salary amendments and three board appointments at its March meeting.
The Howard County Council voted to approve a package of additional appropriations that included transfers among sheriff, 911, community corrections and public-health funds and a $600,000 supplemental allocation to cover inmates the county is housing outside its correctional facility.
The council considered Ordinance 2026-HCC11 after the auditor explained state changes to the Gateway advertising system delayed the posting of January and February appropriation items, creating a brief ‘‘catch-up’’ period that required those items to be formally re-advertised and recorded. The ordinance listed line-item adjustments across multiple funds and a combined total for January–March appropriations.
Sheriff Tim Asher told the council the $8,000 sheriff task-force appropriation would be drawn from a prosecutor forfeiture account rather than the general fund. He also asked the council to approve a change in dispatch staffing: reducing authorized full-time dispatcher slots to 23 while adding a dispatch training coordinator to return the headcount to 24. That reallocation shifts costs between dispatch line items and the state 911 fund.
The sheriff gave the most substantial financial justification: a request for an additional $600,000 to the correctional facilities ‘‘care of individuals’’ account to cover inmates housed outside Howard County. "We were anywhere from 356 inmates. It spiked at 375 inmates," Sheriff Asher said, noting the county currently houses about 74 people in other counties and that the facility's operating agreement contemplates 292 in-custody. He said some reimbursement comes from the Indiana Department of Corrections for state inmates, but housing outside the county still creates a multi-thousand-dollar monthly bill.
Miss Stephanie, representing community corrections, said her adjustments merely align county budgets with Department of Corrections grant categories and that she was not requesting new money beyond what the grants permit. Mr. Best said the health department would appropriate $5,000 for partner supplies and $20,000 for discretionary grants from carryover funds.
After discussion, a motion to approve the additional appropriations was made, seconded and carried by voice vote. The council then considered Ordinance 2026-HCCO-12, amending salary and staffing authorizations for 2026 to reflect the same staffing and payroll changes described in the appropriation package. That ordinance was moved, seconded and adopted by the council.
During new business the council approved three board actions for the Paboa board: the reappointment of Susie Woolly, the reappointment of Sheila Poland, and the appointment of Shereice Goodnight, each approved by voice vote.
The council concluded with reminders about the AIC regional meeting set for April 14 and the next regular council meeting scheduled for April 28 at 4 p.m. The meeting adjourned following a motion and voice vote.
What happens next: the appropriations and salary changes take effect according to county procedure; the $600,000 appropriation will be used to pay outside-housing costs for inmates while the county continues planning for a new jail.
