7/25/18 – 5:11 A.M.

Hancock County is facing a funding crunch when it comes to housing jail inmates. On Tuesday, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office asked the County Commissioners for more money to house overflow inmates in other jails. However, the commissioners say there isn’t any money available to cover the expenses. Funding for overflow inmate housing could run out next month.

Hancock County has spent around $386,000 to transport and house inmates in other jails this year. Only around $14,000 remains in that budget line item for August. At the current rate, the county will spend that amount in roughly 10 days.

Hancock County voters rejected a levy to pay for a jail expansion last year. The commissioners can impose a sales tax, but Commissioner Tim Bechtol says he wouldn’t favor that without broad community support. A change in Ohio law allows counties to impose sales taxes in tenths of a percent without a ballot issue.

Prosecutor Phil Riegle says he and the courts are working to find ways to reduce the jail population. They’ve added arraignments on Friday mornings so defendants who can get a bond can get it quicker. However, Riegle says there are a lot of inmates the county needs to keep in jail.

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