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Wilson County commissioners approve sheriff-led budget amendment to cover jail medical costs and overtime
Summary
At a June 4 called meeting, the Wilson County Commission approved a sheriff-proposed budget amendment adding funds to salary and wages, gasoline and jail medical lines to cover overtime and unexpected hospital and prescription costs; the board also approved a $79,600 letter grant and surplus-property actions.
Wilson County commissioners on June 4 approved a budget amendment presented by Sheriff Gee to add funds to salary and wages, gasoline and jail medical line items to cover overtime and unexpected inmate medical bills.
Sheriff Gee told the commission the jail handled several serious medical cases in recent months, including hospital stays lasting days to weeks and expensive prescriptions. "Some HIV drugs at $15,000 a pop," he said, noting the county’s medical contractor has been working to scrub incorrect charges. He said leftover funds will be turned back into the county at year-end.
The sheriff said some overtime stemmed from deputies sitting with inmates in the hospital, stretching staffing and driving overtime costs. When a commissioner asked whether the county needed further meetings with hospital administration, Sheriff Gee said the hospital was "working well with us" and providing roughly a 45% discount on billed charges while the vendor corrects billing errors.
Commissioners also discussed state inmate revenue, with a speaker noting the county projects about $2.1 million in state inmate housing receipts for the year. That revenue, Sheriff Gee said, helps offset detention costs but does not eliminate the need for the amendment.
The commission moved and seconded the amendment and approved it by voice vote. The meeting record shows assent from commissioners present.
In related business the commission accepted the routine annual letter grant included in the budget packet, listed at $79,600, and approved two surplus-property items: transferring three obsolete wireless routers to the police department and declaring a set of IT equipment as defective and authorizing its destruction. A commissioner offered thanks to deputies and county staff for recent enforcement and roadwork efforts, and the meeting adjourned.
Votes at a glance - Approve minutes: motion approved by voice vote. (SEG 005–010) - Budget amendment (sheriff request to add funds for salaries/overtime, gasoline, jail medical): motion moved and seconded; approved by voice vote. (SEG 015–095; approval noted SEG 133–149) - Accept letter grant ($79,600): motion approved by voice vote. (SEG 150–181) - Surplus property transfer (three wireless routers to police): motion approved. (SEG 183–191) - Surplus IT equipment declared for destruction: motion approved. (SEG 194–203)
Next steps: The sheriff will use the approved funds to pay outstanding medical bills and cover expected costs through the fiscal year; any unspent funds will be returned to the county, according to his remarks.
