Hancock County Continues To Struggle With Increasing Inmate Costs

07/27/18 – 11:08 A.M.

Hancock County is at the last of its funds for housing inmates with five months left in the year. Hancock County Commissioner Tim Bechtol explained that they’ve had more inmates than they could have imagined.

Tim Bechtol

The commissioners allocated $400,000 to house inmates in other jails. Those funds are down to $15,000 now. Bechtol said that he thinks the commissioners will have to re-visit the sales tax issue to make more money.

Tim Bechtol

Bechtol explained that he wouldn’t want to impose an increased sales tax unless it had community support. An increase will also have to provide short term and long term solutions to gain his support.

Bechtol added that they will discuss options in handling the situation during next Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting.