Sheriff outlines 2027 jail budget, says federal inmate program has begun and vehicle costs drive capital requests

Sheriff Tom Johnson briefed the Coffey County Board of Commissioners on his department’s 2027 budget request, reporting the county has begun receiving federal inmates and that a recently contracted food‑service vendor will only deliver substantial savings once the jail reaches capacity.

Johnson said the jail accepted its first federal inmate two weeks earlier and that federal placements are “slowly but surely” beginning. He said using federal detainees will help offset bond payments the jail was intended to service, but cautioned the county will need sustained placements to realize projected savings. “I sure as hell hope so,” Johnson said of the program’s potential to cover costs.

Why it matters: The sheriff’s budget is a significant share of Coffey County’s public‑safety spending, and officials are watching whether federal inmate reimbursements and a new food‑service contract will reduce net county costs.

Johnson described two line‑item changes the commission flagged: a new inmate medical contractual account with Coffey County Hospital and a separate pharmacy line for Auburn Pharmacy. He said the accounts were previously pooled under a contractual total and were broken out “for transparency purposes” so the board could see what each service costs. When commissioners noted the 2027 medical line now reads about $130,000 (with an additional $38,100 for pharmacy), Johnson said those numbers reflect contractual estimates and unspent line items from prior years being itemized.

On meals, Johnson said per‑meal costs fall as volume rises: the county was originally told the vendor’s price would be $3.14 per meal, but early invoices showed higher unit costs until the jail reaches projected capacity. “The more people you have, the cheaper the rate is,” he said.

Staffing and operations: Johnson reported roughly 20 people on the jail payroll and about 42 staff across sheriff and dispatch functions; the jail’s nominal capacity is 92 beds, with 80–85 considered a practical maximum to preserve cushion and county bed space. He said the department recently added two federal inmates and is working through federal paperwork and medical clearances as placements continue.

Fleet and capital: Commissioners pressed Johnson about multiple vehicle‑related line items. The sheriff said the department rotates deputy patrol vehicles on a four‑year schedule; replacement costs, radio and equipment de‑install/reinstall and higher vehicle prices together account for the larger capital outlay request. Johnson and commissioners discussed a roughly $249,000 net increase in the sheriff’s proposed budget that one commissioner described as “an awful lot,” though Johnson defended needed vehicle and equipment investments.

Training, equipment and other costs: Johnson described one‑time costs for digital forensics training and software, noting some equipment and software were funded in part by diversion funds or cost‑share arrangements with surrounding counties. He also said recent state guidance extended the shelf life of certain opioid‑reversal products to 10 years, reducing recurring replacement costs for Narcan in AED kits.

Next steps: The board received the sheriff’s details and had follow‑up questions for staff and the auditor as part of the county’s larger budget discussions scheduled for next week. Johnson answered commissioners’ questions but did not request an immediate vote on the department’s full budget.