Small Town News

Commissioners looking to increase inmate costs to East Bernard, Wharton

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Before almost doubling the cost housing jail inmates for the cities of Wharton and East Bernard, the Wharton County Commissioners Court postponed taking action on such a proposal to negotiate the cost with those cities.

During Monday's meeting of the commissioners, Sheriff's Office Jail Captain T.J. Sparkman told the commissioners that the actual cost for housing inmates at the local jail is $44.15 per day. The county also has contracts with Matagorda County to house inmates at $45 per day and Calhoun County at $44 per day. Based on those rates, Precinct 3 Commissioner Philip Miller recommended a fee for the cities of $44.50 per day.

Currently, the City of Wharton pays $22.36 per day and spent $15,000 to $16,000 with the county to house inmates in 2009. The City of East Bernard's current rate is $26.40 with the city spending $700 last year. The City of El Campo operates its own jail facility and does not have a contract with the county.

The commissioners were reminded that the rate charged to the city was initially based as compensation for land donated to the county for the jail by the city. County Attorney Trey Maffett added that the cost was based on that initial negotiated rate with increases based on a consumer price index and that the county failed for several years to implement those increases.

"I think the cities will understand the increases," Miller said.

"No one expected the costs to go from where they were then to where they are today."

County Judge John Mur-rile added the cost being proposed doesn't include transportation costs to house inmates out of county and is "what we need to charge."

After admitting the cities had not been contacted by the county, Maffett recommended negotiating before making such a dramatic change.

"You have agreements with the cities," Maffett said. "You need to modify those agreements if you are not going to use the consumer index. You need new agreements."

In another action, the commissioner approved a decision that was approved but not actually adopted during the budget process and voted to no longer pay bounties for predatory animals, specifically mentioning bobcats, other than coyotes. The county will continue to pay a bounty on coyotes,

paying $15 for pairs of coyote ears turned in to the precinct commissioners.



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© 2010 East Bernard Express East Bernard, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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