HAMILTON — Budget constraints might prevent the new Butler County Jail from housing as many prisoners in its first year as the sheriff's department had hoped.

        Sheriff Harold Don Gabbard had expected to add 17 corrections officers and six paramedics next year for the jail, which will open in June.

        But state funding cutbacks have caused the county commissioners to take a harder look at all county departments' budget requests for 2002.Ù

        The commissioners said Monday at the sheriff's 2002 budget hearing that the jail might have to open with a smaller staff than planned.

        The existing jail houses 250 inmates and is chronical ly overcrowded.

        The new jail was expected to house about 350 inmates in its first year.

        The commissioners asked Chief Deputy Rick Jones and Maj. Anthony Dwyer how many more prisoners the new jail could house with the same level of staffing as the existing jail.

        Ù “We could have more inmates, but not a whole lot more,” Maj. Dwyer said.

        The modular structure of the new jail will allow corrections officers to see more inmates at one time than they can at the existing jail, which has lines of cells.

        Chief Deputy Jones and Maj. Dwyer said they will give the commissioners more detailed information about the costs of the new jail and staffing needs.

        But Chief Deputy Jones said the jail's larger area and the state's minimum jail-staffing requirements will limit how lean the staffing of the new jail can be.

        “You're not going to be able to take the same jail staff we have now and double the prison population,” he said.

        ÙThe new jail's total capacity will be more than 800 inmates, but county officials don't expect the jail to be filled to capacity for at least 30 years.

        The sheriff's proposed 2002 budget is $21.8 million, about 30 percent of the county's budget. That budget represents an 11.8 percent increase over this year's budget. But the 2002 budget includes costs associated with the new jail.

Deaths of 3 young men stun Mason
Madeira student badly hurt, but home
Paraplegic driver unable to brake
Safety a factor for some UC no-shows
New center takes shape at Xavier
KKK does not ask for cross permit
Rehabs may get new rules
Two shootings leave 1 dead, another hurt
CPS adds fund-distribution option
Police monitors choose new leader
Soldier gets overdue honors
D. DeLotell was bowling columnist
Good News: Cleanup champs honored
Local Digest
More money sought for home care
One turkey of a front yard
Site chosen for 2 schools
Butler un-caps payroll
Butler won't give money for buses
Congrats
Cutbacks might limit Butler jail
Judge cites race in change of sentences
Bush to visit Fort Campbell
Chamber to honor creators of thousands of local jobs
CROWLEY: Dem Hughes shows GOP's Murgatroyd the money
Newport police reaccredited
'Survivor' on the stump
Teens lucky wreck in Ky.
Woman dies in I-75 crash
Aerial GIS mapping aids N.Ky. development
Attempt to study hemp gets held up
Kentucky Digest
Official faces murder charge
Ruling on tax breaks awaited
Schools may get tab on tests
State balks at paying for more rescores
To settle suit, pick a mediator