jail problems in little rock to the tune of millions and a sale tax too

Little Rock Justice of the Peace Allen Kerr, chairman of the county Budget Committee, reported to the Pulaski County Quorum Court in its October meeting that he met with Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, but received a different response. He said Stodola was only willing for Little Rock to fund the existing amount plus an extra 80 beds, with the cost shared between North Little Rock and his city. Stodola did not return calls seeking comment before deadline. Maumelle Mayor Mike Watson said it was a little late for the county to be asking Maumelle for more money since the city’s budget process for 2008 is almost complete. He said the county knew about the jail situation in January and should have asked cities then. He also said Maumelle only sent eight prisoners to the county jail last year and he couldn’t support paying more until the county proves that Maumelle deserves to pay more. “If we’re paying a premium price to the jail, they need to keep the prisoners we send them rather than turning them loose,” Watson said. He said they have been paying around $30,000 a year to fund the county jail. “They need to show me that I’m paying for my prisoners and not some other city’s,” said Watson. As of Aug. 8, county records showed it costs more than $53,000 per day to run the Pulaski County Regional Detention Center. Of that amount, the county pays $43,000, Little Rock pays $4,000, the U.S. Marshal Service pays $2,600, North Little Rock pays $2,500, Jacksonville $480, Sherwood $280 and Maumelle pays $82.20. Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley said the county and cities are factionalized and they’ll never get anything done about the jail until they recognize they are a part of the same community.