4/16/14 - A new source of revenue for the jail was approved by the County Board of Commissioners last night, although one commissioner felt the need to refute claims about his role in the project made by a political rival. The County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to accept a deal with the US Marshals to house inmates at the current jail and, when the upgrade is completed, in the new jail. The deal would allow the jail to house federal inmates, for which the county would be paid $81 per inmate per day plus transportation expenses. County Administrator Belinda Peters tells WHMI this two-year deal could help offset the expected $2.5 million annual increase in the jail's operating cost after the expansion is complete. The deal will begin on May 1st. To address the question of funding the jail expansion's $14 million construction, the county has created the Jail Improvement Committee with Commissioner Don Parker at its head. A press release put out last week by Howell Township Trustee Mike Tipton criticizes Parker for his work in that committee, saying he is supporting and promoting a $14 million jail millage even after he stressed the importance of low taxes in his last county commissioner campaign. Last night, Parker denounced these claims, saying there has been no recommendation for a tax hike and he does not even support such a position. Tipton is the Democratic candidate for Parker's seat on the County Commission, which will be up for election this year. Parker says this is Tipton's motivation for the criticism. Tipton responded by saying a millage has always been mentioned as a possibility and if Parker is now backing away from that, he wonders if the county board will instead cut expenses, and if so, he'd like to know what current service they plan to eliminate. The Jail Improvement Committee will make its recommendations to the board of commissioners by the end of the month. (TD/JK)
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