ST. CHARLES, Mo. – County executive Steve Ehlmann of St. Charles voiced his opinion, saying he does not support legislation from fellow Republican representatives that would force St. Louis City and county to pay for their residents who are incarcerated in St. Charles County Jail.
The bill, introduced by State Representative Phil Christofanelli, said many inmates in St. Charles County Jail are from St. Louis City or county, and it’s costing millions.
Christofanelli is demanding St. Charles be repaid.
“I would be in favor of (the bill) if it applied to every county in the state, but just to simply apply it to two counties—would not be proper in my view,” Ehlmann said. “I do not support it as written.”
Officials say 50% of those incarcerated in St. Charles are from St. Louis.
With 120 inmates, it totals up to around $5.2 million per year.
“It’s proved to be a massive burden on our taxpayers,” Rep. Christofanelli said. “It’s really designed to hold local governments accountable in their unwillingness to enforce the law. Every day that one of these criminals spend in our prison is $140 that’s charged to St. Charles County taxpayers.”
Mayor Tishaura Jones weighed in on the debate as well.
“Crime doesn’t stop at our borders—it’s prevention requires a regional approach with a shared mission to reduce violent crime no matter where it happens,” Mayor Jones said in a statement from her office.
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page took the side of Ehlmann, saying he does not support the legislation either.