Texarkana Gazette on the county jail reimbursement issue

The Texarkana Gazette editorializes on the the state's reimbursement to counties for housing our inmates in this morning's paper. As has been discussed this week, Governor Beebe told sheriffs that they should lobby us to come up with the $10 million or so to get all counties reimbursed for holding our inmates. Many can't be transferred to the pen because we're already busting at the seams. We're supposed to pay them $28 per prisoner, per day, but the fund has run dry. The Texarkana Gazette wants us to find a way to get the counties paid, and pronto. I agree.

The easiest course of action appears to be a portion of the General Improvement Fund that has been dedicated to other projects but which was held back due to unforeseen circumstances -- or a rainy day -- like this. There's approximately $15 million left in that pot. While there are many essential services to be funded with the shallow pool of resources the state currently has, this one is high on the priority list, and the counties should be reimbursed.