By Matt Hutchinson
Sun Gazette
LYCOMING COUNTY, Pa. — While Lycoming County commissioners are set to approve a $97.1 million 2013 operating budget at their meeting Thursday, one line item has had a dramatic increase.
Since the proposed 2013 budget was unveiled on Nov. 15, a $200,000 expense for housing county inmates at neighboring prisons has been added. That’s on top of $400,000 that already was included as the prison and pre-release center are at near capacity.
The Lycoming County Prison holds 255 inmates, while the pre-release center has room for 137. With space at a premium, some inmates are being transferred to Clinton and Centre counties at a cost of about $65 a day per inmate. An agreement also is in place with Tioga County, according to Kevin DeParlos, Lycoming County Prison warden, although no inmates from Lycoming County presently are being sent there, he said.
Full story: County sees big jump in inmate housing costs