20-Year Projected Cost for Housing Inmates Out of Wapello County
Projected Cost of Continuing to House Inmates Outside of Wapello County
Based on the assumptions used for this projection including the number of inmates housed outside the county, daily housing rates, and estimated changes in those costs over time:
Estimated 10-year cost: More than $15 million
Estimated 20-year cost: More than $67 million
Actual costs may vary depending on inmate population, available jail capacity, housing rates charged by other counties, etc.
Estimated Costs
As part of its evaluation, the county hired an outside contractor to prepare estimates for (1) continuing to house inmates outside of Wapello County and (2) for the cost of expanding and renovating the existing jail.
20-Year Estimated Cost for Housing Inmates Out of Wapello County
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Numbers contain rounded values.
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Actual costs may vary depending on inmate population, available jail capacity, housing rates charged by other counties, etc.
Preliminary Project Cost Estimate (Study July 6,2026)
Staffing
Staffing costs are not included in the cost of the proposed jail expansion and renovations. However, changes to the facility will affect future staffing needs and related operating costs. The following information is provided to help explain potential staffing considerations and estimated costs.
Current Facility
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Operates with:
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17 employees on duty each day
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26 total employees needed
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Existing staffing costs for current facility ≈ $1,627,000 annually
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Currently understaffed by five positions
Expanded Facility at Design Capacity
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Facility would need:
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34 employees on duty each day
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49 total employees needed
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Anticipated staffing costs for the expanded facility ≈ $2,917,000 annually (an increase of $1,290,000)
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The projected cost increase for staffing the expanded facility includes filling the 5 positions that the current facility is understaffed
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Actual staff hiring may be phased as needed
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To meet 40-hour work weeks, vacations, sick days, etc.; 26 total employees needed to fill 17 daily posts while 49 total employees are needed to fill 34 daily posts
20-Year Projections: Expansion Project vs. Maintaining Status Quo
*Added 3% for annual inflation rate on labor and the remaining is at 4% (transport & housing costs) for increase in inmates per year for 20 years.
**Includes the full labor estimate on year one for both transport and expansion, understanding it may be different.
*** Total additional staff costs include the five (5) short staffed positions.
Learn More
For more information, please review the Wapello County Jail Study under Supporting Documents of this website.
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Continue to House Inmates Outside of Wapello County: See page 42
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Staffing: See page 37