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Indigent health care funds allocated to prisoners' health costs

New drug provider for inmates and indigent health discussed.
Cindy Roller
/
Cooper Review
Inside the Delta County Jail facility in Cooper.

During Monday morning’s regular Delta County Commissioners Court it was decided to reserve the remaining nearly $18,000 indigent healthcare funds of the $111,000 for Delta County jail inmates for the remaining three and a half months.

“It is the law that the inmates must have medical and dental needs fulfilled,” said Delta County Judge Herb Brookshire. “Lamar and Red River Counties have already run out of funds. …Basically, when it is gone, it is gone. We need to keep it to the bare bones.”

The Court agreed to review this decision again in a month.

“We try to manage indigent health as best we can,” added Delta County Sheriff Ricky Smith. “We have set up policies to monitor.”

He stated the current population of the jail was 10 inmates.

According to Judge Brookshire the DCAD budget has gone up 36.6 percent over the past four years. With this proposed budget it will cost the county tax payers $7,730 more plus the city and school increase. However the county only has one vote in the budget decision process.

The Commissioners will meet again on 9 a.m. July 14 on the third floor of the courthouse.