Pima County lost another customer last night when the Tucson City Council approved a proposal to house their inmates in the Santa Cruz county Jail. The IGA with Santa Cruz County covers prisoners that are sentenced in Tucson City Court.
According to a memo to the Council, the “City has no facility in which it can incarcerate prisoners. The City has an IGA with Pima County for the incarceration of City prisoners in the Pima County Jail. The proposed IGA with Santa Cruz County would provide the City with another option for the incarceration of these prisoners.”
“Under this IGA the City will pay $65.00 per day for incarceration in the Santa Cruz County Jail of persons sentenced in Tucson City Court for jail terms of 10 days or more; this compares to the IGA between the City and Pima County wherein the City’s cost for incarceration of City prisoners in the Pima County jail are set at $279.51 for the first day and $85.00 for each subsequent day,” reads the memo.
City officials they believe the arrangement will “substantial savings to the City, but staff will not be in a position to estimate that savings until the City has some experience under this proposed IGA.”
Because Pima County is reckless in its spending, it has taken to gouging municipalities within its borders. The City of Tucson refused to use the County’s new courthouse because of the excessive contribution the County required. Other municipalities are investigating other providers for animal control services as well.
Tucson is on the verge on bankruptcy after years of reckless spending as well. As a result, it is finally looking for ways to save money.
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