Frederick's share of jail costs on the rise

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By Alex Bridges -- abridges@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- Frederick County can expect to pay more for its share of the regional jail costs next year, officials learned Thursday.

The inmate population at the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center remains low compared to a spike seen in late summer, Superintendent Bruce Conover told the regional jail authority.

The jail had a population of 533 as of Thursday morning, according to Conover, which means he has not had to reopen the annex nor fill any of the five vacant officer positions authorized in the current budget.

But the numbers of inmates from Frederick County continue to increase while the population from Winchester has fallen, Conover said as he discussed projections for fiscal 2013.

Numbers provided by Conover show Frederick County's share of the cost will increase from $3.7 million, or 41.97 percent in the current budget cycle, to $4.1 million, or 44.33 percent in fiscal 2013. By comparison, Winchester's current share of $3.5 million, or 39.39 percent, will decrease to $3.4 million, or 36.67 percent, according to Conover.

Fauquier County will see its cost increase slightly, to $1.3 million, though its share will fall from 14.51 percent to 14.09 percent. Clarke County's costs will increase from $367,287 to $454,774, with its share rising from 4.23 percent to 4.93 percent.

The draft of the fiscal 2013 budget indicates spending of $17.35 million. Revenue to make up that amount would consist of $2.1 million in fees, compared to $1.49 million in the current period; $5.97 million in state and federal funding, down from $6 million; and $9.26 million in local money, up from $8.9 million, or an increase of 4 percent.

Localities used to have to contribute no money to the regional jail, recalled Frederick County's County Administrator John R. Riley Jr.

Planning assumptions for fiscal 2013 include an average daily inmate population of 600, keeping the annex closed, no increase in salaries or change in the governor's budget, and using $1 million from the jail authority's fund balance. Fiscal 2013 anticipates a 5.43 percent increase in spending, to include $432,000 for life insurance, payment into the Virginia Retirement System and five additional staff, plus $304,000 for medical expenses, food service and operating reserves.

The jail seeks to replace its aging and failing intercoms at a cost of $125,000; its key control system at $27,000; and to buy on-site dental equipment for $40,000.

To offset the costs, the jail would increase the fees charged to inmates from $1 to $1.25 per day for housing, from $15 to $16 per day for work-release, and $15 to $17.25 per day for home-electronic monitoring, Conover explained. The state allows jails to charge inmates up to $3 per day for housing, but, as Conover noted, raising the levy too high affects not the prisoners but their families, who actually pay the fees.

The authority agreed to have its finance committee meet Tuesday at 11 a.m. to further discuss the proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.