MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — The cost of housing inmates at the Minnehaha County Jail is increasing, reflecting higher operating expenses and broader cost-of-living pressures.
Minnehaha County Commissioners approved a rate increase for housing Lincoln County inmates, raising the daily cost from $112 to $131.90 per inmate. The Lincoln County Commission has already approved the higher rate.
During the commission discussion, Minnehaha County Warden Mike Madsen said the South Dakota Department of Corrections currently reimburses counties just $95 per inmate per day, well below the actual cost of housing inmates.
Commission Chair Dean Karsky questioned how the funding shortfall is handled. County officials explained the gap is not passed on to other partner agencies.
“We do not shift any cost to any of our other partners,” officials said during the meeting. “The county basically is just out that money. So the taxpayers’ property taxes are going to pay for what the state isn’t paying.”
County leaders said the rate increase helps offset rising expenses for staffing, food, healthcare and facility operations, but it does not fully cover the difference between costs and state reimbursement levels.
The new rate will apply to inmates from Lincoln County housed in the Minnehaha County Jail moving forward.