Reports show jail approaching budget limits with medical care, food, utility costs

Quarterly financial reports presented this week to the Dickson County Commission show expenses continue to run higher than expected for medical, food and utility costs at the Dickson County Jail. The third quarter reports reflect revenue and expenses experienced by the county through the end of March, which means there are still three months left in the budget. As expected, the reports show the jail’s medical expenses for inmates have already gone over budget, with some of that due to unusually large medical bills. At the three-quarter point of the fiscal year, the reports show jail food expenses have already exceeded 81 percent of budget. Utility costs also are heading toward exceeding budget. The reports show electricity costs at 96 percent of budget, while natural gas is at 85 percent and water and sewer costs are at 97 percent. The overall jail report shows expenses over $4.2 million, or 86 percent of the budget with a quarter still to go. County officials have attributed the increased expenses to an unexpected increase in the jail inmate population. The reports also show the county’s legal expenses have already exhausted what was budgeted, as legal fees over the landfill litigation have again exceeded budget. Landfill litigation costs were budgeted for $700,000 this fiscal year and the third-quarter report shows that $787,000 has already been spent on the lawsuits that were settled in December. Total legal costs for the county were budgeted for the year at $890,000 and the reports show only $2,600 left in that fund. With the deadline for property tax payments passing at the beginning of March, revenues for the year are at 94 percent at the three-quarter point, with almost $20 million in total revenue realized. Total expenses to date have been $17 million, or about 82 percent of budget.