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Sheriff reports higher jail food costs, a costly squad repair and Medicaid reimbursement estimate of $104,000
Summary
The sheriff reported quarterly jail revenues of about $149,515 and expenses near $74,728; members probed a $13,220 engine rebuild on a 2023 Tahoe and higher jail meal bills; EMS reported an estimated $104,000 Medicaid supplemental reimbursement under review.
Joe, the sheriff, reviewed CAD/911 call data and the quarterly jail report and explained differences between abandoned 911 calls and CAD hangups. The first‑quarter jail figures reported in the meeting showed $149,515 in revenue and roughly $74,728 in expenses.
"For the first three months ... we generated $149,515 in revenue," the sheriff said, and noted the expenses included meal costs and health‑care charges. Committee members requested that personnel costs be included in future reports so the committee can calculate a per‑inmate cost.
Committee members also questioned large repair and food invoices: an engine rebuild on a 2023 Tahoe cost about $13,220 after the vehicle had roughly 70,000 miles and a damaged top cylinder; April inmate meal line items included multiple two‑week billing periods above $8,500, which staff attributed to a higher average inmate population and a blizzard that required purchasing externally when kitchen staff could not reach the jail.
Rob, representing EMS, said he submitted a supplemental Medicaid reimbursement request and the estimated return is about $104,000; the figure is under desk review and a final number is expected by the end of July with payment in September.
Enterprise Fleet Management provided a fleet briefing: the county currently uses a mix of leased and owned vehicles (roughly 12 leased assigned to the sheriff’s office, 13 county‑owned squads after planned sales, and a projected total of about 26 road‑legal vehicles once disposals and deliveries complete). Fleet replacements are guided by mileage and age thresholds (roughly four years/100,000 miles for marked squad cars), and five county vehicles were slated for sale with an auction scheduled in May.
What happens next: staff will be asked to include personnel costs in jail expense reports for future meetings; the Medicaid supplemental payment remains under state review; fleet auction and replacement timing will continue to be tracked.
