The Starke County Council this week tabled a request from Sheriff Bill Dulin to move money around within his budget. They opted instead to revisit the transfer between the sheriff’s budget and the jail budget in the fall just in case an expense pops up between now and then. The jail budget is running in the red due to the expense of operating a larger facility.
The operating budget for the new jail is based on a study done by the Indiana Sheriff’s Association. However it did not take into account the fact the old jail was understaffed or that Starke County was paying Pulaski County to house inmates due to the conditions at the old facility. Also the county commissioners’ approved the addition of two more full-time jailers last fall, but those positions were never funded by the council.
Dulin told the council he’s just trying to “help the cause” by finding available money. A committee consisting of Dulin, Commissioner Don Binkley and County Councilmen Freddie Baker and Bob Sims is also reviewing the budget. They want to meet one more time with Starke County Auditor Kay Chaffins to set priorities before taking any action.
Dulin also noted income from the Department of Correction for housing inmates in both the therapeutic community drug treatment program and general population is increasing each month. The county has billed the D.O.C. $112,175 year to date through the end of May.
