Heated Discussion Continues Over Operation Of Tulsa County Jail

A heated discussion continues over how the Tulsa County jail is being operated.

City and county leaders want to know why money is being moved around improperly, and the Criminal Justice Authority Board wants to know what can be done to save taxpayers money.

Board members talked about several concerns on Wednesday.

The biggest issue is why more than a quarter of a million dollars was taken from the jail fund to pay sheriff's office salaries.

Acting Tulsa County Sheriff Michelle Robinette addressed Criminal Justice Authority Board members concerns.

One of the most heated topics was how $300,000 was taken out of the wrong fund to pay deputies who protect the courthouse.

“That's not a recurring issue,” Robinette said. “So this particular issue we have addressed and fixed."

Robinette says it came to her attention a few weeks ago.

1/27/2016 Related Story: Tulsa's Mayor Concerned About Tulsa County Jail Spending

Every time one walks into the Tulsa County courthouse, they are greeted by metal detectors and deputies.

The salaries of those deputies are supposed to come out of the sheriff's office fund, but Robinette says nearly $300,000 was taken from the jail fund to pay them, at  a time when the jail budget is in the red.

"I've asked a lot of questions and have been told no there's no problem at all,” Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett said. “[They said] ‘we are audited and blah blah blah,’ and we found out, no, that's not the case."

Robinette says the money is being transferred back to the jail fund.

Another huge concern is the amount of money it's costing to run the jail.

"We absolutely have immediate concerns for the financial viability of the operation of the jail,” county commissioner John Smaligo said.

Smaligo says every year the jail is over budget by $2 - $3 million.

Money is taken out of the county fund to cover the cost, spending more taxpayer dollars.

Smaligo brought up the idea of looking into the private sector to see if they could better manage the jail.

“They will come in under budget, they can do it a year or maybe two, but that third year they will hit the budget,” he said.

There are two mental health pods under construction right now.

They are set to open next year.

The sheriff's office predicts it will save money by providing a better environment for those with mental health problems.