The Kane County Executive Committee recommended unanimously Wednesday that the full County Board reduce the Sheriff’s Office budget by $225,000 this fiscal year to compensate for about two months of revenue lost when 43 federal inmates were removed from the Kane County Jail on Jan. 15.

But the long-range budget fallout from Sheriff Don Kramer’s decision to terminate a longstanding contract to house U.S. Marshals inmates is likely to be much more severe.

In answer to a question by board member Drew Frasz at Wednesday’s meeting, Kramer revealed that “all but one or two” U.S. Marshals inmates have been transferred from the Kane County Adult Justice Center to other facilities. Kramer said the number of inmates had been “typically between 90 and 95.”

At last week’s meeting, Finance Committee Chair John Hoscheit said that revenue from the U.S. Marshals Office is coveted by other Illinois counties. On Wednesday, Kramer acknowledged that the detainees had been swept up by other correctional facilities.

“They have other places that have accepted federal prisoners,” he told the committee.

If all U.S. Marshals detainees were removed from the Justice Center, the Sheriff’s Office could see the loss of about $2.5 million annually, according to a report by Kane County Finance Director Joseph Onzick.

Kramer told board members he would not stay for the duration of the Executive Committee meeting due to a prior appointment, but he did read a brief statement.

“My decision to reduce the number of inmates in the Kane County Jail was not an option, but necessary to address a number of concerns involving the safety and humane treatment of the inmates,” he said. “I plan to contact each County Board member and provide a clear picture of why such action was necessary. I also encourage every board member to make an appointment to visit the jail and meet with the staff.”

Onzick summarized the presentation he had made at the Jan. 28 Finance and Budget Committee meeting, saying the housing of U.S. Marshals inmates brought in about $88 a day per inmate, or about $2.5 million annually. He said it is logical that any revenue shortfall be applied to an equal reduction of the Sheriff’s Office budget, “since the revenue was voluntarily forfeited by the sheriff.”

Onzick said the $2.5 million total budget for U.S. Marshals program is equivalent to salary and benefits of 24.4 correctional officers, funding to operate two jail pods (128 prisoner capacity) and 16.9 percent of the 2015 Sheriff’s Corrections Budget.

Kramer said he is “willing to meet committee chairs to discuss an action plan to address the reduction of jail revenue,” and said the recent death and funeral arrangements for his father, former Kane County Sheriff George Kramer, was the reason he was unable to attend last week’s Finance Committee meeting.

Hoscheit, who is also a member of the Executive Committee, underlined that County Board members and committee heads are committed to resolving budget issues collaboratively.

“We want to work with the sheriff, and he’s indicated a willingness to discuss this,” Hoscheit said. “This is a short-term measure to address the concern, with the possibility of open discussion.”

However, Hoscheit stressed that the Finance Committee “has worked hard to get a balanced budget,” and said he was concerned that a $2.5 million revenue reduction would be “roughly twice” the $1.2 million to $1.3 million in the county’s contingency fund.

Under the proposed ordinance, which could be up taken to a vote at the Feb. 10 County Board meeting, the sheriff will be required to provide a monthly report to the Judiciary & Public Safety Committee that includes an update on U.S. Marshals revenue and out-of-county housing costs.

County Board member Cristina Castro said she looks forward to seeing Kramer’s plan and expects him to make a presentation at the next Judicial Committee meeting.

“I don’t think anyone disputes the value of safety,” she said. “(But) if you want to arbitrarily reduce that revenue … that’s a problem. We always tell everyone, ‘live within your budget.’ Why is it fair for one elected leader to do what they want when others are expected to stay within their budget?”

“We do need to resolve this and start resolving it quickly,” she said.

A motion to adopt a budget-changing ordinance requires a two-thirds majority vote by County Board members.

Sheriff Don Kramer’s Full Statement to the County Board Executive Committee

I want to address the reduction in the sheriff’s budget as proposed by this ordinance.

The 2015 Sheriff’s Office budget — including public safety, corrections and court security — is a very bare-bones budget. Any reduction of the current budget will cripple my ability to provide the minimum service to our citizens.

My decision to reduce the number of inmates in the Kane County Jail was not an option, but necessary to address a number of concerns involving the safety and humane treatment of the inmates. I plan to contact each County Board member and provide a clear picture of why such action was necessary. I also encourage every board member to make an appointment to visit the jail and meet with the staff.

I would like to make it clear that I am willing to meet committee chairs to discuss an action plan to address the reduction of jail revenue. The timing to meet with the Finance Committee was impaired by the loss of my father and the need to assist my mother with funeral arrangements on the day of the committee meeting.

Over the next month, I plan on providing all the data needed for board members to understand the operations of the jail. I ask that each member carefully consider what future action to reduce the sheriff’s budget will do to public safety in the county. Also consider the message you send to our citizens on the value you place on public safety.