Thermometer Erected To Show Jail Costs

Bonneville County officials are using a thermometer on the courthouse lawn to make it clear to taxpayers just how much an overcrowded county jail is costing them.

A fake thermometer was stuck in the lawn on Tuesday, telling taxpayers it has cost $1.1 million the last two years to house Bonneville County prisoners in other jails because the Idaho Falls facility is overcrowded.

County officials said that’s $15 for every resident of the county. The thermometer sign shows dollars already spent during fiscal 1994 and 1995, and will be updated as part of the campaign to convince people to approve bonds for a new jail.

The bond election is scheduled for Feb. 6. Commissioner Roger Christensen said the bond issue will be for $6 million to $7 million.

Currently, there are 46 people in jails outside Bonneville County. At an average of $49 per inmate, cost to the county is about $2,300 per day.