Jail gets ideas for saving millions

An audit of the North Las Vegas Detention Center shows the city could save millions of dollars by making staff changes, improving management and increasing revenues at the jail.

Robert Hatrak, president of Justice Data Systems of America, Inc., told the City Council at a special meeting Tuesday if the audit's recommendations are implemented, the department would be better organized, better managed and it would see decreased expenditures and increased revenues.

Currently the facility's budget shows projected expenses for this year at more than $20 million, with revenues of $7.5 million. According to Hatrak, that difference can be reduced by nearly $5 million next fiscal year.

The council voted 4-0 to accept the audit and instructed staff to proceed with staffing changes, which are expected to reduce overtime as much as $500,000 the first year.

Adjusting staff schedules also could eliminate the projected need for eight additional officers in fiscal year 1999-2000, Hatrak said. The fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30.

Part of the audit assessed security and custody operations, which also are tied to revenues. The audit states that in order for the department to increase its revenues it must generate the maximum amount from its bed space leases.

Currently the detention center receives between $39 to $62 per day for inmates it houses from other agencies including the federal U.S Marshal, the state and Clark County. Those inmates will provide an estimated revenue of $7.5 million for the jail in the current fiscal year.

Hatrak said the cost per bed, however, is $72 per day. Assuming the average number of inmates is 350, the estimated future revenue would be almost $9.2 million -- almost $2 million more than is currently being generated -- if each entity leasing bed space would pay what it costs the jail, Hatrak said.

That means renegotiating contracts that have not been changed in years. And while the federal agencies, according to Hatrak, will pay what an inmate costs the jail, Mayor Michael Montandon expressed concern that they county would not, and North Las Vegas will be stuck making up the difference.

The auditors also recommended that the city could potentially increase the jail's revenues by building a new 400-bed housing unit.

At a cost of about $5 million, which Hatrack said the city could negotiate with federal agencies to pay for part or all of the cost in exchange for guaranteed future space, the detention center could increase its revenues by an estimated $2.6 million annually.

The audit is the first in a series the city is conducting of all its departments. The police department will be the focus of the next audit.

Police Chief Joey Tillmon said he thinks both positive and negative aspects of his department will be brought to light during the impending audit.

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