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Council tables proposed jump in jail fee amid contract and accounting questions
Summary
A proposed ordinance to raise the jail fee per ticket from $5 to $25 (a judge recommendation) was tabled after council members raised concerns about the lack of a current contract with the county sheriff, unclear distributions of AOJ/court-automation receipts, and the city’s exposure if fees go unpaid; staff will meet with the sheriff and report back.
The Cherry Valley City Council tabled consideration of a city ordinance that would raise the jail fee charged per ticket from $5 to $25 after council members said they needed clearer accounting and a contract with the county sheriff.
Council members and the city clerk described recent changes in how court automation fees and AOJ (Administration Office of Justice) shares are being distributed. Staff reported the AOJ informed the city it no longer receives court automation revenue because the city abolished its municipal court; those funds and a share of AOJ receipts are now being routed to the neighboring city that handles the court (the city of Win was cited). The council said that until it has a written agreement and a transparent breakdown showing how automation receipts, dispatch/first-responder fees and any county housing charges would be allocated, it cannot safely raise the per‑ticket jail fee.
Council members expressed concern that raising the fee to $25 could leave the city liable for inmate-housing costs if convicted individuals do not pay and the city lacks a contract that guarantees cost recovery. The clerk said recent monthly disbursements and the supporting reports did not reconcile and that staff had received inconsistent reports from the court clerk and the city of Win.
The council directed staff to schedule a meeting with the sheriff and to seek a clear written agreement or accounting method; if staff cannot resolve the points administratively, the sheriff will be asked to appear at the next council meeting. The tabled ordinance will be revisited only after those steps are completed.
