Becker County is making strategic moves to bolster staffing at the county jail without significantly increasing costs. During a meeting on Tuesday, the County Board approved hiring a new jail correctional officer. This move is part of a broader plan to allow the county to accept more federal prisoners, potentially earning the county up to $90 per day per prisoner, a notable increase from the current rate of $72.
However, due to budget concerns, the board delayed a decision on hiring an additional deputy until their October 15th meeting. This new deputy would assist in transporting federal prisoners to medical appointments and court.
The financial strain emerged when Sheriff Todd Glander requested $1 million to replace aging body and mobile cameras for the sheriff’s department, as well as to upgrade jail security cameras. Around $400,000 of the cost was intended to come from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, with the remaining $639,000 coming from a state criminal justice allotment. However, a review of the ARPA fund balance revealed it was nearly exhausted, leading to hesitation from the board on approving additional spending.
The board is now reassessing which projects can move forward, with Commissioner Richard Vareberg noting, “Somebody won’t be getting something off of this Special General Fund list.”