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Marquette County committee hears sharply different jail-cost analyses; no decision
Summary
Supervisor Chuck Bornhoeft presented a public-records analysis estimating 2024 jail costs at roughly $1.322 million (~$41,000 per inmate/year); Sheriff Joe Konrath offered an alternative accounting that produced a lower total and a per-inmate daily figure. The committee discussed options and took no formal action.
Supervisor Chuck Bornhoeft presented an analysis of county jail operating costs during the Nov. 4 Marquette County Judicial & Public Safety Committee meeting, saying 2024 spending on salaries, maintenance, meals, health care, mileage and transports totaled about $1.322 million — approximately $41,000 per prisoner per year. Bornhoeft said his figure excluded vehicle costs and certain revenues and urged the committee to explore options for the facility similar to prior EMS reviews.
Sheriff Joe Konrath disputed Bornhoeft’s totals and presented a different accounting during the same discussion, saying his numbers — which factor in revenues and a different allocation of salaries and transports — came to $692,494.24. Konrath also cited a per-inmate figure of $59.28 per day under his calculation. Committee members questioned differences in how transport costs were categorized (patrol and court transports versus jail transports), and the exchange focused on reconciling methodology rather than adopting any policy change.
John Krause, speaking during the public-comment portion of the meeting, told the committee he opposed any plan to close the jail.
The committee did not adopt any motion to close or change jail operations at the meeting. Members discussed next steps for fact-finding and analysis; the committee later scheduled a jail inspection tour to occur in December 2025 in conjunction with the Property Committee. The matter remains under discussion and no formal action on closure or staffing changes was taken at the Nov. 4 meeting.
