Harlan Kirgan
The tight budget bucks surfaced at the St. Landry Parish Council meeting as a security change at the courthouse was approved.
Parish President Bill Fontenot said Sheriff Bobby Guidroz discovered his office needed additional funding for providing security at the courthouse and the courthouse annex.
The sheriff’s cost was rising from $30,000 to $100,000, Fontenot said.
“The $70,000 increase is going to choke our budget pretty good. So, we felt confident that what we have now is a good agreement,” Fontenot said.
The agreement approved by the Council is that the Opelousas City Marshal will staff the security points at the courthouse and annex
Guidroz said he had to make decision because of rising costs and the need to hire more patrol officers.
“I’m making a business decision. No issues whatsoever,” he said.
Guidroz said he understood the parish president’s need to shop around for a new security solution.
“The marshal’s office has very qualified people,” Guidroz said. “They are POST certified. They can provide the service to provide security at the courthouse for less money than I can provide for you.”
Security in courtrooms will continued to be provided by the sheriff. The sheriff’s security will be extended to hearing officer Josie Frank.
The sheriff said deputies would be available if needed.
“We are going to be there for them,” he said.
But he added the Council will be impressed with the marshal’s service.
Amanda Cain, finance director, said the marshal is to be paid $38,400 a year for the security service.
In another issue, Guidroz said his office is coping with the shutdown of the Opelousas City Jail, which meant 14 more prisoners to the parish jail.
“The second day six were released on ankle bracelets or other means,” he said.
The parish jail has a 232-inmate capacity and must take people charged with crimes under state statutes, he said. If the parish jail does not have room, the inmates must be housed elsewhere, he said.
“I’m doing the very best I can to keep your costs down,” Guidroz said.
The use of ankle monitors is one way he said costs are being reduced. A prisoner pays $15 a day to use a monitor instead of staying in jail, he said.
Guidroz said he is also seeking to use the monitors on juveniles.
Housing a juvenile costs $256 a day, but an ankle monitor would be $50 a day.
“We have a lot of juvenile offenders in St. Landry Parish. More than our fair share,” he said.