As Columbus commissioners and administration look at cutting positions and finding other ways to save money, the county is facing a $731,000 medical bill for inmate care.
Most of the total charges come from one inmate, whose name and medical conditions have not been officially released, was jailed on a minor charge and didn’t bond out, Board Chair Laverne Coleman said. That inmate apparently had a preexisting illness that required extensive care.
“Because the county is responsible for medical care for people in jail,” he said, “We have to pay that bill.”
The money will come out of the county’s fund balance, which Coleman said is “already low,” at just over $4 million projected in the fiscal 25-26 budget. Fund balance is generally set aside in case of emergencies, such as natural disasters and unanticipated expenses.
“How can the county plan for something like this?” he said. “The sheriff can’t just set aside a half-million dollars in case there’s an inmate who needs treatment for cancer, or heart surgery.”
Private insurance and Medicaid will pay for inmates who are insured, but by state law, uninsured inmates are the responsibility of the county jail, and by extension, the sheriff.
Emails between County Manager Eddie Madden, Finance Director Heather Woody and the sheriff’s office warn of potentially more insurance bills for the county.
Two firms, Prime and Southern Health, are owed $731,542.29 by the county. Prime is owed $340,901.53 of that total.
“It is possible we may owe more, and it is possible we may owe less,” CCSO Executive Assistant Michele Tatum wrote to Madden. “We will have to contact every medical vendor individually for every inmate … to obtain further details.” Tatum noted that the invoices have been checked for error before being submitted.
Madden shared the news with commissioners in a May 15 email.
“They are now anticipating an invoice from Prime and Southern Health in the amount of $731,542.29 which will have to come from fund balance,” Madden wrote.
Woody also warned of additional last minute expenses as the county closes out Fiscal Year 24-25 on June 30.
“With this amount, we need to hold back on any expense we can to reduce usage of fund balance,” she wrote. “I am looking at the county as a whole and not just the department. There is no telling what else may pop up in the next eight weeks.”
Coleman said commissioners are concerned about dipping so heavily into the fund balance, which has already been tapped for replacement vehicles for the sheriff’s office and other expenses.
“If we get a hurricane, I don’t know what we’re going to do,” Coleman said.
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