Group of county commissioners to protest state prisoner funding this morning in Jefferson City

When the state of Missouri runs out of room for prisoners in state-run institutions, the inmates are sent to counties. County commissioners from across the state are complaining that the state doesn't pay enough for prisoner care in such cases, effectively creating an unfunded mandate that his hurting county coffers.

The county officials are planning to demonstrate on the Capitol building steps this morning as part of an appeal for better funding.

On Wednesday at a statewide county commissioners training meeting, Pettis County Presiding Commissioner Rusty Kahrs raised the issue during a forum with Missouri Senate Pro Tem Charlie Shields.

Shields had told the crowd of nearly 200 officials that he wanted to know if counties were having problems with unfunded state mandates.

"The state can pay per diems up to $37.50," Kahrs said. "We're getting $22.50, which is an increase and a help, but it costs us $45 or more day to house your inmates. We have no choice but to take them."

Kahrs went on to say his county shells out at least $270,000 to cover the difference and that, when he complained during a senate hearing on the issue, "One of the senators said, 'Sue us. I'll back you.'"

The state pays all counties $22.50 per day to care for prisoner. The actual cost to each county varies; commissioners say no one can house prisoners for the state rate.

Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said his department pays an average of $34 a day per inmate, but "if they don't get convicted, we don't get anything."

Shields, sounding grim, told Kahrs, "That's not good news," adding that the critical economy was hurting the state budget.

The county officials are planning to demonstrate on the Capitol Building steps this morning as part of an appeal for better funding.