River Region Medical Center offered reduced rates for hospital services and testing for jail inmates, a deal that Warren County supervisors readily accepted as part of their effort to reduce expenses.

The agreement does not cover services of physicians or professional fees.

Terms will renew automatically after the first year, barring a desire by either party to cancel. The offer, which could save the county up to 60 percent on covered services, was OK’d without dissent pending a legal review.

The discounts on services to inmates had been offered by the hospital before, though no written contract existed previously, River Region CEO Vance Reynolds said after the meeting. Reynolds said discussions with the county on inmate services had continued “over the past few years” leading up to Monday’s vote.

The pact is expected to sync with privatized medical services, which the board has mulled since March while planning a request for proposals to spell out precisely what the county wants from a single-source inmate care provider.

Supervisors and the sheriff’s department have voiced favor for a deal that would eliminate a staff nurse who has administered prescriptions and eliminate a separate contract with a physician for medical visits. Costs for inmate health care could surpass $180,000 this fiscal year, according to estimates. Annual savings with an outside provider figure to fluctuate with market forces.

To make the transition smooth, the county also must ensure a provider will serve the Youth Detention Center across the street from the jail, Board President Richard George said.

Cuts elsewhere in the budget in the past month include funds marked for eight nonprofit agencies and local shares of salaries at the Department of Human Services and the Extension Service. Reductions total $201,248, with more needed if supervisors are to reach their goal of balancing to meet falling tax, fine collections and state reimbursements.

Also awaiting a next move is implementation of a public defender system, prominent on a list of reforms suggested by hired consultants studying the feasibility of a new jail. An estimate last week predicted indigent defense claims will outpace fine collections by more than $132,000, with updates on the trend likely through the summer budget process.

Fines collected by the District Attorney’s Office in 2009 totaled $367,121.17, or about 45 percent of the $811,077.01 assessed during the year, according to a report for supervisors prepared by Victim’s Assistance Coordinator Brenda Theriot.

ON THE AGENDA

Meeting Monday, Warren County supervisors:

• Reported no action following a closed session with Warren County Judge Johnny Price, termed a personnel matter at its outset.

Later, Price said the topic centered on his salary. In March, the two-term judge, who also presides in youth court, had requested the county ask for an attorney general’s opinion to see if he had to “retire” again if he is re-elected.

The answer from the AG’s office indicated Price has already “retired” for the purposes of the state’s Public Employee Retirement System, referencing a provision in state law allowing an official to receive up to 25 percent of a retiree’s average compensation in addition to a regular retirement allowance. Counties may pay county court judges $1,000 less than circuit and chancery judges, who make $103,700 in Warren County.

Under state law, discussions of employee activities may be closed, not salaries, and Price is an elected official, not a county employee.

• Opted to entertain offers from landowners around Willow Creek Drive concerning a request to transfer an access path of about .92 acres. Votes to declare it surplus and sell it for $1,000 failed.

• Approved three payments for the Haining Road and Cherry Street bridge replacements and the bayou-clearing project. Invoices for ABMB Engineers totaled $45,598.58 for the three projects. An estimate for Dozer LLC, contract builder of the new Cherry Street bridge over Glass Bayou, totaled $46,916.42.

• Approved applying for a second round of Justice Assistance Grant money, totaling $52,471 to be split evenly between Vicksburg and Warren County if awarded. It would finance a fully equipped vehicle for the police and sheriff’s departments, Board Attorney Randy Sherard said. A mix of JAG funds and federal stimulus money paid for new equipment in each department earlier this year. The board also OK’d moving $47,342.97 from the general fund to finance the earlier round of equipment purchases.

• Approved a $3,500 audit of the Parks and Recreation Department’s finances by independent auditor Bridgers & Company.

• Approved two pay raises for clerical staff in justice court.

• Approved invoices totaling $36,324.74 to County Engineer John McKee for engineering services and $2,812.50 to Sherard for legal services.

• Declared a service weapon used by WCSO Chief Investigator Jay McKenzie surplus and sold it to him for $1. McKenzie is retiring at the end of June. The board also declared a pair of 2003 Ford Crown Victorias surplus, which frees them for sale at auction.

• Proclaimed this week Children’s Mental Health Week in a short presentation with Warren Yazoo Mental Health Service Executive Director Don Brown.