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Franklin County jail budget seeks six new staff as county prepares to receive federal inmates
Summary
County jail leadership asked the fiscal court to add six positions — increasing staff from 43 to 49 — and said a pending federal contract could return up to 20 federal inmates to the facility, offsetting costs; treasurer warned of a potential $900,000 SAP revenue shortfall if inmate counts remain below budget.
The Franklin County jail presented a proposed staffing increase and budget outlook during the fiscal court work session on March 19.
Jailer Jayla Hopper said the jail is seeking six additional positions to grow staff from 43 to 49 because program populations (SAP and SOAR) have increased and the facility will resume receiving federal inmates under a Bureau of Federal Prisons arrangement. Hopper said a previously signed contract provided for up to 30 federal placements but that the county currently expects an initial pod-sized placement of about 20 federal inmates, which would be reimbursed to the general fund and help offset staffing costs. "We're going to say 20 because that's what this particular pod area holds," Hopper said.
Hopper told the court the jail currently holds 247 people and that the facility's maximum practical capacity is about 350, with staffing, transport and medical obligations driving personnel needs. She said federal inmate transports require two-person teams and that medical and transport costs are reimbursed to the general fund rather than the jail payroll line.
Treasurer Amy Kman briefed the court on the county's year-to-date finances and warned the SAP program revenue is trailing budget. Kman said the county budgeted $1.2 million for SAP receipts but has received roughly $140,000 so far and now projects a shortfall of about $900,000 that would be covered with transfers from the general fund if reimbursement and placement levels do not reach budgeted amounts.
The court received the jail budget as presented; members asked for additional detail and noted that formal amendments and any hiring would occur in the voting session or later budget process. Hopper said the Bureau of Federal Prisons representatives had toured the facility, praised its readiness and informed the jail that placements could begin within weeks. "They called us within 30 minutes, told us they'll be bringing them back," she said of the federal contact.
The treasurer and jailer discussed capacity and contingency planning. Kman said the county would not transfer money from reserves until it is necessary, but committed to covering shortfalls when program revenue falls short of assumptions.
The court moved forward to include the jail budget in the items to be received during the formal voting session; no final permanent staffing hires were recorded in the work session notes.
