Panel gives OK to new fee for county jail

$10 increase will start Jan. 1

BENTONVILLE — Benton County’s Quorum Court on Thursday night unanimously approved a fee increase for housing inmates at the jail.

The $10 increase from $50 to $60 will inch closer to the break-even point for housing inmates. The new fee will start Jan. 1.

Officials mulled a $5 increase for municipalities earlier this month, but Justice of the Peace Brent Meyers suggested raising the fee another $5 at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Oct. 11.

“I think it’s fair because it simply offsets the county’s expenses,” Justice of the Peace Shirley Sandlin said before the Thursday night meeting.

There were 606 inmates — 428 local, 158 and 20 federal —in the jail Thursday.

Data provided by Meyers shows 15 cities and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport bring people to the jail at 1300 S.W. 14th St. in Bentonville.

Pea Ridge Mayor Jackie Crabtree said the uptick in fees shouldn’t have a big budget impact for his city because police don’t take many people to the jail. Pea Ridge would pay about $14,160 a year with a $60 fee. The city is expected to pay about $11,800 this year with the $50 fee, according to Meyers’ data.

Brenda Guenther, Benton County comptroller, said the fee charged to cities has lagged behind costs.

The fee was $40 in 2013, 2014 and 2015. The Quorum Court increased the fee to $45 in 2016 and to $50 in 2017, Guenther said.

The cost of housing an inmate for one day was estimated at $46 in 2013. That increased to about $53 in 2016. After the county added jail space the cost increased to $60 in 2017, Guenther said. The national average to house a prisoner is between $72 and $75 a day, Benton County Jail Capt. Jeremy Guyll said.

Information Meyers provided to the Committee of the Whole showed an

increase of $10 would cost the cities $222,180 annually. The cities are expected to pay $185,150 this year with the $50 fee.

Salaries make up of 64.2 percent of jail costs, according to information from Guenther. Smaller costs include utilities, food and clothing, and medical expenses.

“It’s surprising how many little things add up quickly,” Sandlin said.

Justice of the Peace Pat Adams wanted it entered into the record perhaps a reduced fee might be considered if an inmate was never put into a jail cell, but was instead held in the booking area and then later released. He suggested the item be revisited next year.

The county receives $30 per day from the Arkansas Department of Correction for state prisoners, and $56 per day for housing federal prisoners.

“They are dealing with reimbursement from the state, and that’s a whole other battle,” Crabtree said of the county. “We understand what they are going through.”

Also Thursday on night the Quorum Court approved the second reading of a temporary one-eighth-cent sales tax for a proposed $30 million courts facility, and the second reading for a special election. The county has adopted a building design and a location on Second Street in downtown Bentonville for the building. The funding plan is set for a special election in March. Third readings will be held in December.

The Quorum Court also approved a funding plan for a radio system costing $3.75 million. The county will spend $1.75 million from reserve and borrow $2 million to pay for the radio system. The justices of the peace considered paying the full amount, but chose to borrow some money with the option of paying the loan early.