COLUMBIANA CO. Insuring county inmates weighed

The insurance company would be paid from the savings it earns for the county.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners are edging closer toward insuring county jail inmates to save money on health-care costs for prisoners.
Commissioners agreed Wednesday to meet in the next few weeks with Stratford Insurance Service Agency of Stow to consider the company's inmate health insurance program.
Commissioner Dave Cranmer said the county could save about $10,000 in annual inmate medical costs by hiring Stratford.
The company is paid through the amount it can save the county by negotiating discounts for prescriptions and medical care and by monitoring treatments for prisoners.
Annual cost
The county now pays about $115,000 annually in inmate medical bills, including prescriptions.
Ohio law requires that counties provide medical care for prisoners.
"Any time we can save money, it's good for our budget," Commissioner President Jim Hoppel said of the insurance proposal.
Commissioners were to begin meeting with department heads Wednesday to discuss their 2003 budget requests.
Earlier this year, county offices submitted 2003 spending requests that total about $19.5 million.
Estimated county revenues for 2003 will be about $18 million.
Commissioners must reduce requests to match revenues.
"That will have to be pared down," Cranmer said of the requested $19.5 million.
County Auditor Nancy Milliken urged commissioners to budget at least $500,000 to carry over from 2003 into 2004 to pay bills due early in 2004.
Commissioners said they would try to meet that goal.
Commissioners expect to adopt a 2003 budget, or at least a spending plan covering next year's first quarter, late this year or early in January.
Court of appeals
The county's annual payment to help maintain the 7th District Court of Appeals may go up in 2003, commissioners said.
The county now pays an average of $23,000 annually to the court, which encompasses eight counties, including Columbiana and Mahoning.
The court has informed member counties that it needs more space than is afforded in its offices in the Mahoning County Courthouse.
The appeals court is shopping for a new location, which may entail moving expenses and higher rent, Columbiana County commissioners explained.