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Nemorandum Page 2 November 28, 1977 4. We have repeatedly tried to obtain incremental cost figures through the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. We have held three meet- ings with these officials, and they have yet to present incremental or additional cost data which is convincing. Basis for $8.00 Per Day The best information available to the Department of Administration and the Department of Correction indicates that a per diem 'payment of $8.00 should be sufficient to cover the incremental cost of keeping additional misdemeanants. Many counties which have signed contracts have indicated that they are doing quite ~ell on $8.00 per day. However, quite a few other counties have indicated that their costs are much more than $8.00 and have not signed contracts. Therein lies our problem. Currently, many counties are keeping misdemeanants without any cost to the State. The Department of Administration believes that $8.00 is an adequate payment and · '' many of the counties confirm this. Other counties say that the payment should be $10.00 or $12.00 or even more. However, it appears that accurate accounting data is not available to support these amounts. Nevertheless, the Department of Administration is hereby making a proposal to eliminate the impasse~ but it must be clearly understood by all concerned that any payments agreed upon now cannot and will not be considered binding by the State when better cost data becomes available later in the fiscal year. ~le Legislature will eventually have to solve the proble~ of payments to counties for maintaining male misdemeanants. The present per diel~ payments are an interim solution. In the interim, it is hoped that the counties will keep accurate incre- mental costs records so that they will have meanlngfu% cost information to present to the Legislature when the matter comes under consideration. If the Legislature does not have such info,nation, they will be forced into determining a per diem payment in the same manner' as we face Mow. New DSpartment of Administration Proposal: $10.00 Per. Day The Department of Administration proposal is as follows: 1. The per diem payment will be increased to $10.00 from July 1, 1977 covering all male misdemeanants with sentences of 30 tbrou~] 180 days. Counties that have received payments under the old contract will be paid the additional amount when a new contract is executed for the higher amount. 2. If medical expenses in excess of $35.00 are incurred on behalf of a male misdemeanant, all medical expenses so incurred will be paid. The payment will include the first $35.00. Proper adjustments will be made for prior paymeuts made under the contracts already signed by counties which are in effect now.