Olmsted County reverses decision on Dodge County jail fee increase

The Olmsted County Board of Commissioners has voted to rescind a recent decision to significantly increase the daily fee charged to Dodge County for housing detainees at the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center. The previous resolution had sought to raise the per diem rate from $75 to $323 per person, a figure based on a Minnesota Department of Corrections analysis.

Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson challenged the $323 estimate, arguing it was misleading because it included medical expenses already covered by Dodge County. Torgerson had proposed a more moderate increase to $100 per day. The potential fee hike had prompted Dodge County Sheriff Scott Rose to announce plans to seek alternative housing for detainees, a move that would have cost the Olmsted County jail approximately $300,000 in annual revenue.

The board's decision to reconsider follows concerns regarding the financial impact on local jail operations and the accuracy of the state's cost assessments.