JACKSON - Some Mississippi sheriffs are opposed to a bill that would reduce by $5 a day the amount counties receive for housing state prisoners.
Harrison County Sheriff George H. Payne said Tuesday that the legislation would impact all sheriff's departments.
"How big an impact is certainly according to how many state prisoners you house on a daily basis," Payne said.
Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie, president of the Mississippi Sheriffs Association, said the group would make a presentation to lawmakers.
"We're in constant contact with the other 81 sheriffs around the state seeking their input, their desires, as well the desires of the over 400 supervisors who are in charge of funding local government," Sollie said.
The House Penitentiary Committee voted last week to reduce the amount counties receive for housing state prisoners from $20 a day to $15 a day beginning Oct. 1.
The bill as introduced would have extended the law that allows the state to house inmates in local jails to 2006 at $20 a day reimbursement. The bill then went to Stringer's committee.
If approved by the Appropriations Committee, it goes before the full House.
House Appropriations Chairman Johnny Stringer, D-Montrose, said it may be several weeks before his committee addresses the legislation.
Stringer said he hasn't looked at the bill. "At this point, I'm neutral," Stringer said.
When told that some sheriffs were against the bill, Stringer responded: "And I like sheriffs, too."
Lee County Sheriff Jim H. Johnson said he's sending letters to lawmakers to voice opposition.
Johnson said the $20 payment is stretched to the limit. He said the money covers the inmate's meals, jailer salaries, the wear and tear on local facilities, transportation and medical care.
"We're not in it to raise money. If it's reduced any more than it is, it will cost me money," Johnson said. "I'm asking that they please reconsider this."
Johnson said he can house up to 60 state prisoners in Lee County. He calculated that the reduced payments would cost his department $62,500. That figure was based on the number of state inmates housed in Lee County last year.
"That's basically the salaries of two jailers," Johnson said.
Rep. Randy "Bubba" Pierce, D-Leakesville, a member of the Appropriations Committee, said the bill is on the list of options to cover the state's budget shortfall.
"Nothing is off the table at this point, including that bill," Pierce said.
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