MADISON COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — Residents in Madison County will get the chance Tuesday to offer their thoughts and ask questions about a proposed property tax increase for the detention center.
The facility has been dealing with chronic overcrowding. In fact, to say the Madison County Jail is full would be an understatement.
"A typical cell that was built to accommodate 10 or 12 people will have upwards to 30 people in it," said Madison County Jailer Steve Tussey. "And when you have that many people in that close of proximity, tensions are going to be high."
The jail has only 184 beds, but it's currently housing around 413 inmates.
But it gets worse.
The jail actually should have about 552 total inmates. But not everyone can be housed in the facility. Nearly 43 are kept on home incarceration and 96 more are housed in jails spread across 12 other counties.
"We are sending inmates basically anywhere we can find a empty bed," Tussey said. "T hat's costing the county about a million dollars a year."
That money is coming straight from Madison County taxpayers.
A meeting is set for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Perkins Building at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond.
