Othello fears higher costs for prosecution, jail services

OTHELLO — Othello may see about a 50 percent increase in the cost of justice in 2011.

The Othello City Council plans discuss an Adams County request today that would raise prosecution and jail services costs.

The city contracts with the county for prosecutor services instead of having its own municipal court and pays the county to use the Adams County jail.

Othello Police Chief Steve Dunnagan said the county has asked to increase the cost of prosecutor services from $50,000 to $73,323.

The city started contracting for prosecutor services with the county in 2004, Dunnagan said. The contract is self-renewing, unless the city or county want to renegotiate part of it.

"This is the first-ever increase that they are asking for," he said.

Dunnagan said the request is understandable, since costs and population have increased since the original contract was approved.

The county also has asked for a $13 increase in the daily amount the city pays for a person to be in Adams County jail. That would move the $50 fee to $63, Dunnagan said.

He estimates that may cost the city $3,500 more a year, but he doesn't expect the city will need to increase the jail budget.

Prosecutor services and jail costs are a slim part of Othello's $2 million public safety budget, which includes police and dispatch services, Dunnagan said.

Dunnagan said he won't start to draft his department's 2011 budget until September.

The city council would have to approve a new contract with the increased prices and the 2011 budget, for the change to occur, he said.

This story was originally published August 23, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Othello fears higher costs for prosecution, jail services."