On average, housing inmates at the Warren County Regional Jail who were arrested on state-level charges costs Warren County $55 per day. Bu the state only reimburses the jail $35.31.

A newly introduced bill in the Kentucky General Assembly is aiming to fix this.

House Bill 557 was introduced earlier this month by State Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland. The bill would, among other things, bring the state’s reimbursement for county jails up to cover all costs, something Warren County government has said would lead to tremendous savings.

More than 30 state lawmakers have signed on as co-sponsors, including State Reps. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, Steve Riley, R-Glasgow and Rebecca Raymer, R-Morgantown.

Warren County Jailer Stephen Harmon spoke on how the system currently works. Under the current model, reimbursements from the state only start coming in after an inmate receives a final judgment or sentencing. Harmon said for the time between an arrest and a final judgment the inmate is considered a “county inmate,” and no reimbursements are made.

Harmon said in one local instance, an inmate was held at the jail for 500 days before sentencing.

“Those 500 days that we have provided services … and all of the things that it takes to run a county jail that took care of him and many others, there’s no funding for it,” Harmon said.

Along with upping reimbursement amounts, the bill would allow local jails to be reimbursed retroactively, from the time of arrest up to sentencing.

The jail on Thursday reported 632 inmates, 231 of which were state inmates. Doing some math, this equates to just over $12,700 in costs with a possible reimbursement of just over $8,100 for one day.

Harmon said of the jail’s $12.4 million budget, $4 million comes from Warren Fiscal Court. If even some parts of the bill pass, Harmon sees a savings for the county and for taxpayers.

“Every county will see (the) benefit of restructuring the state and county inmate relationship,” he said.

Other jailers in the region also believe the bill is a huge step forward.

Aaron Shirley, the jailer for Barren County, believes the bill would also provide a great savings to Barren County, especially with regard to medical expenses for inmates.

“If they have to go to the hospital, or, if you have somebody that has cancer and has to have treatment, we have to take them to these things and provide that service to them,” Shirley said. “it’s a financial burden on on the whole system.”

Allen County Jailer Tim Meador said certain costs with housing inmates, such as food, have risen in much the same way they have for households.

“We have to feed them,” he said. “And that’s paid out of general funds out of county tax money. It would be nice to have more to help compensate that.”

Warren Coutny magistrates on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution expressing support for HB557 and urging lawmakers to pass it. Before the vote, Judge-Executive Doug Gorman shared his thoughts on the current system.

“We are not being treated fairly by the state, nor is any other county that has a jail,” Gorman said.