By Steve Maynard
The News Tribune
TACOMA, Wash. -- Pierce County officials moved forward Monday to fill a $2.4 million shortfall in the jail’s budget this year with sales tax revenue.
The county jail is projected to overspend its budget by $1.9 million, $1.4 million of it due to overtime.
Adding to the deficit is $500,000 less than budgeted from agencies that use the jail. That drop is primarily due to fewer offenders from the state Department of Corrections, said budget and finance director Gary Robinson.
Sheriff’s Department Chief Brent Bomkamp said the Department of Corrections would like to house more inmates at the county jail, but the jail doesn’t have room.
“We’re running basically at capacity right now,” Bomkamp said in an interview. It’s not unusual for the jail to be over-capacity for the number of men it can house, he said.
Turned away by the county jail, the state is sending parole violators to jails in King and Kitsap counties, Robinson said.
In her supplemental budget, county Executive Pat McCarthy proposed taking $2.4 million in higher-than-anticipated sales tax revenue to cover the $2.4 million deficit.
After asking a few questions, the County Council’s Rules and Operations Committee on Monday sent McCarthy’s proposal on to the full council with a “do pass” recommendation. The council is scheduled to vote on the spending plan Dec. 2.
The jail projects overspending its overtime budget of $2.5 million by $1.4 million this year, Robinson said.
Deficits at the jail have caused ongoing budget problems this year and in 2013.
Last year, the council laid off 16 deputies to help fill a $5 million jail deficit. That was due to Tacoma and Lakewood sending their misdemeanor bookings to jails that charge lower rates.
While jail overtime continues to drain the county budget, the shortfall could have been worse this year.
The county’s corrections bureau projects saving nearly $900,000 this year in outside medical costs, including hospital visits, Robinson said. That savings reduced the deficit.
Even after filling the deficit, another $600,000 in sales tax dollars will remain. That money would be added to the county’s fund balance for next year, Robinson said.