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Supervisors weigh using jail housing revenue to cover rising food costs
Summary
Board members discussed offsetting rising jail food costs with revenue from housing inmates brought in by other counties; figures presented included food costs of about $3,000–$4,000 per week and an option to deduct food expenses before revenue splits.
Andrew Long told the board the jail’s food ordering is planned for 40 inmates each week, which creates some spoilage when the population falls: "Sarah Knight that does our food ordering, she orders figuring 40 inmates regardless if we have 40 or not." He estimated food spending at "in the ballpark of 3 to 4,000 a week."
Chair Don Swinker and other supervisors discussed accounting options for revenue generated by housing out inmates. Swinker suggested using some of the revenue to subsidize food costs rather than letting other county budgets be reduced to pay for the increased food line item; county auditors warned that state auditors will look at gross revenue and that expenses should be shown and then expensed. No formal decision was made; supervisors asked staff to prepare budget options and consider an amendment or a work session to address food and utility shortfalls.
