Board Meeting October 24, 2007

Finances topped Wednesday’s agenda of the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio Board as members approved 2008 budgets, revised bed allocation numbers and increased program fees.

Toledo officials had asked for more time to review the 2008 budget, waiting until the next board meeting in December to act on the budget. Instead, officials agreed to approve the 2008 budget and to be open to any amendments offered by Toledo or Lucas County officials. One county commissioner noted that most of the increased operating costs are due to inflation and commended CCNO staff on doing an exceptional job with limited funding.

A 2008 operating budget of $16.3 million, an increase of 2.5 percent over the 2007 budget of $15.9 million, was approved by members. Increased costs were contributed to employee health care premiums, equipment maintenance agreements as well as increased inmate medical/dental costs. It was noted that wages and salaries increased only 1.3 percent due to six positions being unfunded and the computer technician being contracted out. There also were decreases in vehicle and property insurance costs.

The per diem rate would increase from $67.87 in 2007 to $70.03 in 2008. An official noted that the per diem rate at the Lucas County jail is $140.

CCNO Executive Director Jim Dennis was asked what would happen if CCNO was not allowed any budget increase for 2008. Mr. Dennis said that would require a cutback in beds, programs, services and reduction in five full-time staff.

In addition, said Mr. Dennis, medical and mental health services would decrease. He noted that more mentally ill come to CCNO, an estimated 25 percent of the facility’s population, than are housed at an area mental health facility. With the increase of mentally ill inmates, there is also an increased cost for their care to include expensive psychotropic medications. One official suggested that legislators be lobbied to set aside monies for jails to offset mental health costs.

Board members were informed of a projected $354,000 carryover in the 2007 budget that will be credited back to the jurisdictions in 2008.

The 2008 budget includes a special per diem rate of $1 to finance capital improvements, estimated at $288,000, to include roof replacement, parking lot improvements and expansion of the video arraignment system.

Board members also approved a 2008 operating budget totaling $690,054.33 for the Electronic Monitoring program that is self sufficient with funds paid by participants and two state grants. To make sure that the program is self sufficient, board members approved weekly rate increases from $60 to $70 for electronic monitoring and from $70 to $108.50 for GPS. Mr. Dennis said the program averages around 130 participants per week but there is more capacity to increase participants.

The 2008 bed allocation was approved by board members. The total bed count of 642 was reduced to 638 as required by the Bureau of Adult Detention of Ohio. Allocations for 2008 stand as follows: Defiance County 62 (same); Fulton County 49 (down one); Henry County 36 (down two); Lucas County 197 (down one); City of Toledo 244 (same); Williams County 50 (same.)

In his operational report, Mr. Dennis said Wednesday’s inmate population stood at 568 or 88 percent which was a surprise in comparison to previous weeks. The population averaged 587 or 91 percent in August and 596 or 93 percent in September, noting a variety of overcrowding emergencies in September and October.

Mr. Dennis expressed concern about the Reach Up organization that has provided chaplain services to the inmates at CCNO for the past 18 years at no cost to the facility. The non-profit agency has recently experienced funding limits and may be required to reduce chaplain services to include religious counseling and death notices.

Board members authorized the CCNO tactical team to represent Ohio in the National Tactical Competition to be held in Florida. The winner of the state tactical competition held Sept. 22 at CCNO is unable to attend, allowing CCNO to attend as it placed second in the competition event. Costs were estimated at $790.

A bid was awarded to Superior Uniforms of Toledo to provide staff uniforms for 2008-09. A second bid from Aramark Work Apparel was rejected as it lacked prices on bid items.