Regional jail bill to increase: ; Change will cost Kanawha $160,000 more each year

Kanawha County's budget encountered another strain in an alreadyfinancially challenging year after the Regional Jail Authority votedto raise the amount needed by the counties to house each inmate perday.

In a move that will cost Kanawha County about $160,000 moreannually, the authority raised the per diem from $47.53 to $48.25,which is a raise of 72 cents per inmate, per day. The change takeseffect July 1, 2009.

Commission President Kent Carper said the rate increase might benecessary, but the state needs to help alleviate some of thefinancial stress that counties are placed under.

"The fact that they've raised rates I don't like, but Iunderstand it," Carper …