By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

As construction continues at the Ellis County jail, the cost of transporting inmates out of county is beginning to pile up.

Ellis County Sheriff Ed Harbin told the Ellis County Commission on Monday night that, in the last three months, there have been 231 people admitted into the county jail.

Harbin said he expects the transportation and medical costs to cause the sheriff’s department to go over budget this year.

“Our budget gets hit pretty hard by the expenses to keep these inmates out of county,” Harbin said. “It ranges anywhere from $35 to $45 a day per inmate.”

According to Harbin, there were more than 70 people housed in area jails as of Monday.

Commissioner Barb Wasinger said the county knew the transportation issue could be a burden on the sheriff’s budget.

“We will just have to work with whatever comes forward and know that you’re keeping an eye on the bottom line where you can,” she said.

Harbin added that medical costs for inmates are also an increased expense.

He said the jail staff is not a medical staff and so they are forced to either schedule doctor appointments or take inmates to the emergency room.

When they move back to the refurbished Law Enforcement Center, Harbin said they hope to bring in a medical service that will help with health and medical situations.

The sheriff’s department is also in the process of purchasing a new transport van.