A major increase in medical costs, food and utilities are the main reasons for a $190,000 increase in the Warren County Jail budget, according to Sheriff Jackie Matheny. Last year’s total was $2.31 million, while the 2011-12 budget comes in at $2.5 million.Matheny says one inmate is responsible for costing the county $80,000 in medical expenses because the county is required to provide medical care while inmates are incarcerated. The result is Matheny asked for $80,000 more in next year’s budget to bring the medical line item up to $260,000.“The reason for that is we’ve had one inmate that has cost us right at $80,000 due to dialysis treatments every week while he was in,” said Matheny.
One inmate breaks jail budget