Continued: Higher costs of housing short-term offenders prompts rally

As more than 100 county commissioners from across Minnesota stood on the steps of the State Capitol, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and state legislators came under heavy criticism Thursday for forcing counties to pay the increasing cost of housing short-term offenders.

The rally came as the Association of Minnesota Counties complained that requiring counties to take certain state prisoners -- the result of a 2003 deal to balance the state budget -- has led to rising numbers of inmates in county jails and dwindling reimbursements from the state to pay for housing them.

"It's nothing more than an old-fashioned shell game," said Sheriff John Sanner of Stearns County.

With a host of county officials, including sheriffs, standing in the bright sunlight, the event was a sign of an increasingly strained relationship between counties and state officials, including the governor, and comes as the state warns that a worsening economy offers little immediate hope that the issue can be resolved.

The immediate issue on Thursday was a program for short-term offenders -- felons with six months or less to serve -- that since 2004 has seen more state prison inmates transferred to county jails. The practice has led to 2,619 inmates now being housed in county jails for a total of 131,281 days, county officials said, up from 1,832 inmates for 85,351 days four years ago. At the same time, they said, state reimbursements to counties for housing them has fallen from $13.04 a day in 2004 to a projected $9 a day in 2009.

"They're treating us right now as an open checkbook," said Kathy Gaylord, a Dakota County commissioner.

DFL legislative leaders blamed the problem on Pawlenty, a Republican. "This is another example of the damage done to the state and local partnership by the years of the Pawlenty administration neglect," said House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm. Sen. Tom Bakk of Cook, the Senate Taxes Committee chairman, said DFLers had pushed for more local government aid, but he warned that an expected state budget forecast means that "there's going to be very little new money to do anything" during next year's legislative session.

Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said that the state has never traditionally covered the entire cost of housing short-term offenders and that, in addition to inmate reimbursements, counties received $80 million annually for local correctional services.

"While we understand the concerns raised by the counties, they appear to be first in line for money that isn't likely to materialize, as the state faces a projected deficit and the economy continues to struggle," said McClung.

Jennes Swenson, a Grant County commissioner, said both political parties are to blame for the situation. "I believe it's about 60 percent [the] governor, and 40 percent Legislature," said Swen- son, who said too many politicians seem content to let funding for basic government services and infrastructure deteriorate. "That just blows my mind."

Dennis Fink, a St. Louis County commissioner, echoed others Thursday who said that state officials often view counties as a special interest group simply wanting to get more state money instead of as a government partner. "It has gotten under our skin," said Fink, who said that when state officials vote on a state budget, counties are in effect told to "just stand over there and wait until we get this solved."

Mike Kaszuba • 612-673-4388

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