Could Florala go into the inmate housing business?

That’s what council members agreed to explore Monday after discussing budget issues within its police department.

During the first month of the new fiscal year budget, figures show the FPD to be approximately $2,000 over budget, and while that may not seem like a lot, Chief Sonny Bedsole was urged to look for additional savings.

“However, we know that some of those items – like inmate housing and fuel – you have no control over,” Mayor Robert Williamson said.

During October, the department spent more than $2,700 more than budgeted line items for inmate housing and fuel, while less than budgeted figures in other line items.

The discussion soon turned to how to recoup some of the money spent on inmate housing. One suggestion was to negotiate the housing rate set by the Covington County Commission and the meal rate set by the sheriff. The city recently entered into new contracts for both housing and meals.

“What about us taking in inmates?” Councilwoman Pat Carmichal asked. “That would be a new source of revenue for us.”

Williamson said a four-year-old estimate to renovate the old city jail put the project at $140,000.

The facility, once finished, could house 16-18 inmates.

“I would say we should run the economics on that,” Councilwoman Hazel Lee said.