The Associated Press
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — The Grand Forks County jail lost about $500,000 in 2007, but the loss was only about half of the original projection.
The $16 million jail opened in the fall of 2006. A year ago, county commissioners estimated the jail would lose as much as $1 million in 2007, mainly because the county had overestimated the amount of revenue the jail would receive from housing federal prisoners.
Prisoner housing revenue was about $460,000 under budget for the year, according to Debbie Nelson, the county finance and tax director.
Commissioners in late 2006 accused then-jail administrator Gary Gardner of misinforming them about the financial potential of the new jail and fired him. Gardner maintained he did nothing wrong and eventually got a $30,000 settlement.
Commissioners might ask voters this year to approve a 1 percent sales tax to pay off the jail’s construction debt. A sales tax would reduce county property taxes.
Grand Forks County jail losses below estimate