Jail needs more funds, employees in FY 2014

WINCHESTER — The Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center needs more money to hire more employees, according to the proposal for its fiscal year 2014 budget.

The Regional Jail Authority’s Finance Committee met Friday and passed the proposed budget, which will mean a nearly $2 million increase in the amount paid by the four localities the jail serves: Winchester and Frederick, Clarke and Fauquier counties.

The majority of the cost increase involves plans to add personnel.

Eight sworn officers and two civilian cook positions, initially left vacant because of financial constraints last year, would be reinstated in the FY 2014 budget, according to the proposal.

“In addition, four new positions are added to the budget to reduce the overwhelming workload on existing staff in medical and investigations,” the proposal states.

Under the proposed budget, the localities would pay these amounts in FY 2014:

Clarke County — $611,252, an increase of $146,115 from last year.

Frederick County — $5,029,596, an increase of $830,098.

Winchester — $3,996,210, an increase of $522,363.

Fauquier County — $1,619,872, an increase of $285,089.

Last year’s Regional Jail budget was $17,564,779, while the FY 2014 proposal is $18,713,615.

Each locality’s share in the detention center’s cost is based on the number of inmates it sends to the jail and the length of time they stay.

Their combined contribution to the nearly $19 million proposed budget would be $11,256,930.

Other revenue will come from fees ($1,510,734) and state and federal funds ($5,945,951).

Goals outlined in the proposal include keeping the jail’s annex building closed for at least the first six months of the fiscal year and replacing its failing cooling towers and chiller compressor.

The next step of the process will be the approval by officials in each locality of the proposed budget.

— Contact Melissa Boughton at mboughton@winchesterstar.com