Committee narrows proposed jail per‑diem increase for City of Uklid, sends contract to full council

The Cuyahoga County Public Safety & Justice Affairs Committee on May 19 approved an amendment and sent to the full council a revenue agreement with the City of Uklid that reduces an initially proposed per‑diem increase for inmate housing.

Councilwoman Janine Simon moved to reduce the per‑diem rate the county proposed for Uklid from $234 to $225 in the near term and to lower the later increase from $257 to $245, saying the change would ease a sudden budget shock to Uklid after the city’s jail closure and county takeover. "That was just a huge jump," Simon said, arguing the city remains disadvantaged by past county actions and needs a gradual adjustment.

Donna Khalil, the sheriff’s finance manager, told the committee the $234 figure is the county’s current per‑diem calculation and is intended to mirror other suburban municipal contracts. "This is the current PDM rate uh where we're at right now, which is the 234," Khalil said, explaining that the rate includes wages, MetroHealth costs and space maintenance.

Brendan Doyle, representing the county executive's office, replied that the administration used 2024 volume data to set the rates and noted the city council in Uklid already approved the $234 rate on April 20. "If you look at the numbers from 2024, the city of Cleveland had 6,377 inmates. The city of Uklid had 845," Doyle said, arguing the volumes make the two cities distinguishable for pricing.

Committee members debated parity and timing. Several members said the disparity with Cleveland’s historically lower rate (discussed as an outcome of prior contracts) remains a long‑term problem best addressed when the new jail opens and contracts are renegotiated; others said modest, immediate relief for Uklid was justified. Councilman Kelly estimated the proposed tweak would cost the general fund roughly $10,000 annually under 2025 utilization numbers.

Miss Simon’s amendment—"amend the PDM rate of 234 to 225 and the PDM rate of 257 downward to 245"—was moved, seconded and approved by voice in committee; the chair instructed staff to forward the substituted resolution (20260095 as amended) to the full council under second‑reading suspension for final action.

The committee also asked county staff to provide underlying spreadsheets and utilization figures for municipalities that use the jail and to brief members on contractual renegotiation opportunities tied to opening the new county jail.

What happens next: the amended agreement will be considered by the full Cuyahoga County Council; committee members signaled they expect broader contract renegotiations around the start of operations at the new jail.