Tulsa city and county continue to fight over a proposal to increase jail fees.
In a special meeting Thursday morning of the Tulsa County Criminal Justice Authority, Mayor Dewey Bartlett said increasing the city’s fees is unfair because it contributes about two-thirds of the sales tax revenue that funds the jail.
Bartlett read the sales tax ballot measure for the authority.
"You very clearly stated when you read that, that it was a tax to construct and operate a county jail," County Commissioner and TCCJA Chair John Smaligo said. "So that should end it. That's what the taxpayers voted on."
Bartlett claimed higher fees amount to double taxation and questioned the appropriateness of paying for court guards. Smaligo countered Tulsa doesn’t have a municipal jail.
Bartlett responded the jail holds only 30 to 40 municipal inmates.
"We bring a lot of people down like everybody else does with municipal and other charges, either state charges or federal charges," Bartlett said. "And that's obviously where the disagreement lies."
The TCCJA put together a team to negotiate jail fees with city officials. The city has an extension to its jail contract with the county that expires Oct. 31. The negotiating team will meet with city officials, but any resolution won’t be binding for the county commissioners.
The county has set a daily rate of $52.02 per inmate and a $118 booking fee.
