Sheriff describes new 287(g) reimbursements; funds must be segregated from county general fund

Sheriff briefed Potter County Commissioners Court on Sept. 28 about a newly available set of reimbursements tied to the county's participation in a 287(g) jail model.

"This includes a 1 time $100,000 transportation fee," the sheriff said, outlining that initial stipends of about $7,500 per 287(g) officer (four officers were noted) and equipment allotments would be part of the first-year funding. The sheriff said the initial stipend package would total about $130,000 and that future quarterly reimbursements could include stipends of roughly $15,000 per quarter per officer and additional allocations for IT and equipment.

County staff and commissioners discussed accounting requirements: the money advanced by the federal partners must be kept in a segregated account and cannot be commingled with the county's general fund. Staff said wage-and-benefit reimbursements for hours that 287(g) officers spend on ICE cases may be eligible to go into the general fund as reimbursements, but funds provided for transportation and equipment must remain restricted. Commissioners asked whether the county would buy vehicles and were told purchases would be permissible only if used strictly for the restricted purposes the federal program allows.

No final change to policy was made at the briefing; commissioners asked staff to return with a formal resolution or vote if needed to accept and segregate the funds formally.