Cape Girardeau County to receive less state funding for housing inmates

Cape Girardeau County officials are concerned about a new reduction in per diem to counties housing state inmates.

While the move is part of the legislature's attempt to balance a $23.3 billion budget for next year, county officials are frustrated by the decision they say is unfair.

"We can't continue to pay out high daily bed and breakfast fees," said District 1 Commissioner Paul Koeper. "In a nutshell the state has passed the buck to us, saying 'here you go, counties, you deal with it.'"

Sheriff's departments in each county are reimbursed $22 each day per inmate to cover costs including food, meals and medical bills. Once the new budget takes effect July 1, counties will receive about $2.50 less per day. According to the county auditor's office the cost of housing a prisoner per day is $37.50.

The cuts will mean the county will take in $75,000 less in reimbursements this year. Because the state's July 1 to June 30 fiscal year falls on a different schedule from the county's Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 fiscal year, the county didn't factor in the cut during budget discussions.

"Cape Girardeau County is fiscally stable," Koeper said. "We can handle it. But at end of this year will have to look at the budget and work with sheriff's department to see what we can do to look at how to take on less revenue."

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan said that while the $2.50 less in reimbursements for each prisoner may not seem like a lot, it can add up quickly when factoring in each prisoner staying in any county jail per day.

"The state's in a money crunch like a lot of other government agencies right now," Jordan said. "But they'll have to live within their means and part of what they're doing now is shifting the load to the counties."

Koeper said one solution could be what Scott County is considering: installing electronic monitoring bracelets for prisoners. If approved by the judge, inmates being held on a county charge or conviction can opt for house arrest with an electronic monitoring bracelet at a cost of $10 per day to the inmate.

Dick Burke, the executive director for the Missouri Association of Counties, said counties throughout the state may not have a choice but to ask the taxpayers for a tax increase.

"No one wants to do that, especially now," Burke said. "So when the state doesn't fund an idea, that county either has to come up with the money or something is not going to be funded. They are extremely frustrated that this has been put on their back."

The cuts are the latest for county governments. The State Tax Commission has reduced the parcel reimbursement rate for county assessors from $5.99 to $4 for each parcel of land, costing counties thousands of dollars.

Budget officials hope the state will save $5 million by trimming counties' reimbursement for incarceration and $5.5 million by giving assessors less money.

State Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, said that while he understands the concerns of Koeper and other county officials, hard decisions must be made.

"The state can't spend a dollar it doesn't have," Crowell said. "The state pays what it can afford."

In a letter addressed to Gov. Jay Nixon and state lawmakers Wednesday, Iron County Presiding Commissioner Terry W. Nichols asked for reconsideration of the cut in reimbursements. Nichols, who also serves as president of the County Commissioners Association of Missouri, said the cuts would result in devastating financial consequences for the state's counties.

"Imagine what would happen if you walked into McDonalds, ordered a hamburger from the dollar menu, and decided to only pay 50 cents or less for it," he wrote. "This would be called stealing. And, this is exactly what the State of Missouri is doing to the counties."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

243-8600

Pertinent addresses:

1 Barton Sq., Jackson, MO