Missoula County supports HB 174: Requiring certain costs paid to detention centers to be based on actual costs, up for hearing tomorrow, Jan. 18, at 3 p.m. in the House Judiciary Committee. Missoula County, like most counties, operates a detention facility which houses state inmates for a variety of reasons. Current state law requires the state and other entities pay the actual costs of incarceration for these inmates; however, artificial caps placed in House Bill 2 have prevented the actual payment of costs and instead set a rate lower than costs, resulting in a tax shift to local property tax payers. HB 174 strengthens the language requiring actual costs be paid to local governments for holding state inmates.
Missoula County supports HB 174: Requiring certain costs paid to detention centers to be based on actual costs, up for second reading on the House floor this afternoon. Missoula County, like most counties, operates a detention facility which houses state inmates for a variety of reasons. Current state law requires the state and other entities pay the actual costs of incarceration for these inmates; however, artificial caps placed in House Bill 2 have prevented the state and other entities from having to pay the actual costs of incarceration for these inmates, meaning local property tax payers must then foot the rest of the bill, which in the last fiscal year was approximately $300,000 for Missoula County. HB 174 strengthens the language requiring actual costs be paid to local governments for holding state inmates.
Missoula County opposes HB 174: Requiring certain costs paid to detention centers to be based on actual costs, up for second reading on the Senate floor this afternoon. Missoula County, like many counties, operates a detention facility which houses state inmates for a variety of reasons. Current state law requires the state and other entities pay the actual costs of incarceration for these inmates; however, artificial caps placed in House Bill 2 have prevented the state and other entities from having to pay the actual costs of incarceration for these inmates, meaning local property tax payers must then foot the rest of the bill, which in the last fiscal year was approximately $300,000 for Missoula County.
HB 174 as originally proposed would pay these actual costs, but the amendments placed on the bill now insert into state law a permanent cap based on the costs of a private prison provider, who is not subject to the real costs counties are subject to around wages, benefits and medical care. HB 174 should be returned to its original purpose, requiring the state to cover the costs of inmates in state custody housed at local detention centers.
Representatives France, Howell and Zephyr,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County supports HB 174: Requiring certain costs paid to detention centers to be based on actual costs, up for hearing tomorrow, Jan. 18, at 3 p.m. in the House Judiciary Committee. Missoula County, like most counties, operates a detention facility which houses state inmates for a variety of reasons. Current state law requires the state and other entities pay the actual costs of incarceration for these inmates; however, artificial caps placed in House Bill 2 have prevented the actual payment of costs and instead set a rate lower than costs, resulting in a tax shift to local property tax payers. HB 174 strengthens the language requiring actual costs be paid to local governments for holding state inmates.
Please support HB 174.
Representatives,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County supports HB 174: Requiring certain costs paid to detention centers to be based on actual costs, up for second reading on the House floor this afternoon. Missoula County, like most counties, operates a detention facility which houses state inmates for a variety of reasons. Current state law requires the state and other entities pay the actual costs of incarceration for these inmates; however, artificial caps placed in House Bill 2 have prevented the state and other entities from having to pay the actual costs of incarceration for these inmates, meaning local property tax payers must then foot the rest of the bill, which in the last fiscal year was approximately $300,000 for Missoula County. HB 174 strengthens the language requiring actual costs be paid to local governments for holding state inmates.
Please support HB 174.
Senators,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes HB 174: Requiring certain costs paid to detention centers to be based on actual costs, up for second reading on the Senate floor this afternoon. Missoula County, like many counties, operates a detention facility which houses state inmates for a variety of reasons. Current state law requires the state and other entities pay the actual costs of incarceration for these inmates; however, artificial caps placed in House Bill 2 have prevented the state and other entities from having to pay the actual costs of incarceration for these inmates, meaning local property tax payers must then foot the rest of the bill, which in the last fiscal year was approximately $300,000 for Missoula County.
HB 174 as originally proposed would pay these actual costs, but the amendments placed on the bill now insert into state law a permanent cap based on the costs of a private prison provider, who is not subject to the real costs counties are subject to around wages, benefits and medical care. HB 174 should be returned to its original purpose, requiring the state to cover the costs of inmates in state custody housed at local detention centers.
Please oppose and amend HB 174.