Feds, county to meet over cost of prisoners

Kim Smith

Thursday, Sept. 30, 1999 | 11:40 a.m.

A dispute over how much the federal government pays for its prisoners at the county jail may be resolved when county officials meet with U.S. marshals within the next two weeks.

Under its current contract with the U.S. Marshals Service, Clark County receives $80 a day for each federal prisoner at the county jail. That figure was a compromise after the county had originally suggested $85.

But a U.S. Department of Justice audit earlier this year stated $65 a day for each inmate would be a fair rate, said Dave Turner, a Marshal's Service spokesman in Washington, D.C.

After that audit, the federal reimbursement for April came in $22,000 short, prompting the Clark County district attorney's office to send letters of protest to the marshals service. Following the exchange of letters, the current contract has been honored, but the shortfall for April remains an issue.

Joe Gumiensky, financial officer for the Clark County Detention Center, said the Marshals Service has proposed a meeting.

"I think both sides want to have a relationship," Gumiensky said. "I know we're willing to help them out. They have a need and we want to be a good neighbor."

The Marshal's Service had 82 inmates at the detention center as of Tuesday and hopes to continue its 15-year relationship with the county, Turner said.

"We will be delighted to meet with them," Turner said.

Officers' salaries, food and medical services account for the bulk of the expense, Gumiensky said.

Gumiensky said he expects the meeting to be held within the next two weeks. "We're sure we can hammer out a solution," Gumiensky said.