$30 MILLION CORRECTIONS SURPLUS QUESTIONED

(03/11/2009)

A Cabell County commissioner is questioning a surplus West Virginia's regional jail system keeps in its account. Commissioner Scott Bias says the system has $30 million more than needed in an account for the last fiscal year. Bias said under WV Code, the regional jail and correctional authority funds have conditions, "If the authority determines that moneys held in these funds are in excess of the amount needed to carry out the purposes...it shall take action that is necessary to release the excess...transfer it to the general fund." Cabell County has long been contentious about the high costs of incarceration in West Virginia, which takes at least 20% of the county's budget. Jail bails have been threatening to bankrupt poorer, rural counties. "They're building a huge surplus and charging the counties for it," Bias said. Joe Thornton, deputy secretary of military affairs, said his department is doing nothing illegal. The senate has formed a committee to look into the matter.

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