MANSFIELD — The Richland County Jail is not excluded from the pain of rising food costs.
The Richland County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a one-year renewal of its food services contract with Summit Correctional Services, including a 4-percent increase from last year’s prices.
The new price per meal is about $2.42, based on 651 to 700 meals per day — about an eight-percent jump from last year’s price per meal, $2.24, which was calculated on 701 to 750 meals per day.
A smaller inmate population may lessen the impact to the county’s general fund. The three-member board appropriated $600,000 for food costs in 2025.
Commissioner Tony Vero said at the new rate, the contract may cost approximately $598,445, coming in right under budget — dependent on the number of inmates in the jail.
“Obviously it’s (cost) a little close, so I would expect we might appropriate a little more,” he said Tuesday.
The new contract with Summit Correctional Services is effective Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2026.
Rachel Troyer, the county’s central services coordinator, said an overall increase in food costs was taken into consideration when deciding to move forward with the renewal.
“I feel that 4 percent (increase) is reasonable,” Troyer told commissioners. “That is our cap for this renewal.”
Jail administrator pleased with food quality
Richland County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Dave Blake, the jail administrator, said he supported the renewal.
“The first month I came over here, I didn’t think the food service was doing that good. They’ve come a long way,” said Blake, who took the top spot at the 266-bed county corrections facility back in April.
When making rounds throughout the jail, Blake said he asks inmates about food quality.
“Every one of them has told me in the last several months that the food has gotten much better,” the jail administrator said. “The food portions are doing much better.
“They do their own bakery. The inmates just rave about the blueberry muffins in the morning. Overall, they’re doing a lot better — the taste of the food, it looks presentable.”