House Bill 557 targets jail funding reform

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Warren County leaders say millions of local tax dollars are currently being used to house inmates who are technically the state’s responsibility at the Warren County Regional Jail.

Judge-Executive Doug Gorman says while counties are constitutionally required to operate jails, the state does not begin reimbursing counties for felony defendants until after they are sentenced. That means some inmates can remain in the county jail for months — sometimes more than a year, with no state reimbursement during that time.

According to Jailer Stephen Harmon, about one-third of the jail’s population, roughly 180 to 220 inmates, are classified as state inmates. Another 240 are considered county inmates, and he says 96 to 97 percent of those are felony defendants awaiting trial.

Currently, the county covers 100% of the pretrial housing costs.

The jail’s total budget this year is $12.4 million. More than half of that, between $6 and $7 million, goes toward staffing. Medical costs total about $1.3 million annually, and food costs nearly $1 million. Harmon says the actual cost to house an inmate is approximately $55 per day, while the state reimburses counties $35.31 per day after sentencing.

House Bill 557, now under consideration during the current legislative session in Frankfort, would require the state to reimburse counties closer to the actual daily cost and provide retroactive payments for time served before sentencing. Gorman estimates the change could save Warren County taxpayers between $2.5 and $3 million each year.

County officials say if approved, the savings could be redirected to other local needs such as road improvements, fire protection, and public safety services.