A new state rule that could be implemented in January could cost Koochiching County an extra $90,000 per year with the addition of two staff.
Now, state rules for jails require a minimum of one jailer/dispatcher to 15 offenders. State and local jail officials have concerns that staff may be too busy with the dispatch role to be able to run the jail, which involves doing well-being checks, handing out medications, and serving meals, and vice versa, John Schadle, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections, told the Journal Thursday.
A proposed change to the rule would lower the ratio to one jailer/dispatcher to five offenders. The rule change would allow jails to apply for a variance, which would be looked at on a case-by-case basis, he said.
The Koochiching County Jail now has one staff member to dispatch calls and handle the jail from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
“This is a dramatic change,” Commissioner Wade Pavleck told The Journal.
Pavleck said if the state mandates the change, it should also pay for it.
“We can’t afford it,” he said. “This is too much to throw on people at one time.”
County commissioners sent a strong message to the Minnesota Department of Corrections this week when they met with Diane Grinde, a DOC employee who conducts jail inspections in the region. Commissioners called the change in inmate numbers requiring two staff arbitrary.
Pavleck, who represents the county on the Northeast Regional Corrections Board, was expected to discuss the proposed rule and its impact to Koochiching County via telephone Thursday with Tom Roy, DOC commissioner.
Grinde told the board that the new rule, which was developed administratively and not acted upon by the Minnesota Legislature, was reviewed by a panel which included state lawmakers.
Commissioner Mike Hanson said he wants to know who the legislators were on the review panel; how many jails in the state would be impacted by the new rule; and the status of the rule-making process.
Commissioners said rule changes that carry great financial requirements for counties should be taken through the legislative process because of the burden placed on counties.
The additional jail costs, along with a loss of $181,000 program aid anticipated for 2013, could mean a levy increase for county taxpayers.
Based on a $3 million levy, county Administrative Director Teresa Jaksa said the additional jail costs and loss of aid represents an 8 percent increase in the levy. “And that’s just the beginning,” she said.
The $90,000 for the two additional staff represents a 3-percent increase in tax levy.
The loss of program aid, according to Jaksa, is a result of the Legislature’s failure to pass a tax bill, which caused the law to revert to a 2009 formula. Jaksa said the Department of Revenue recalculated the formula, resulting in a loss of anticipated state aid for some counties, including Koochiching.
She noted that while Koochiching will see a loss of $181,000, St. Louis County is expected to see a loss of $1 million in program aid. At the same time, she said Hennepin County will gain $8 million in program aid.
Schadle said that all rules are reviewed on a fairly regular basis. This rule, he said has involved a year long or longer review, which involved the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association and county commissioners.
“In this case, there are questions about whether there is adequate staff in the county jail overnight to ensure the dispatch post is fully manned,” he said.
The rule change will require some counties to add additional staff to keep post manned fully, he said.
Besides Koochiching, Pavleck said Cook and Lake of the Woods counties would also be impacted by the rule change.
Pavleck said Grinde told the board if a county did not comply with the proposed rule change, there would be sanctions.
