The Grant County Quorum Court, during their regular meeting in late June, heard a request to consider raising the amount of money the county pays to house inmates at the Sheridan City Jail.
According to the Sheridan Headlight newspaper, Grant County is one of the few counties in the state that does not operate its own jail., and currently uses the Sheridan City Jail. The county reserves 10 beds a day or 300 a month. For every extra bed used, the county pays the city $35 for each female inmate and $30 for each male inmate.
Sheridan Chief of Police Jason Teague called for raising the fee to $40 per inmate regardless of sex. The newspaper reported that Teague justified the increase by citing a 2017 study showing that the average cost to house an inmate is $45 day, He said the city would make an official proposal later but he wanted the quorum court to keep the price increase in mind when they start to make up next year’s budget.
