As of the Schuylkill County Prison Board’s meeting last week, there is no triple-celling at Schuylkill County Prison, Warden Michael Buchanan reported.
Schuylkill County continues to house a portion of its population at other facilities to manage capacity: 34 inmates were housed at other facilities as of the meeting on July 15: 33 at Northumberland County and 1 at Centre County, with an average of 32 outsourced inmates over the course of June.
As usual, Buchanan also delivered his State of the Prison report, detailing the revenues and expenses at the Pottsville jail. In June, he reported, expenses totaled $716,182.26.
So far in 2026, the County has spent $4.96 million at the prison. That’s an average of $826,717 per month, and at that rate, the County will spend nearly $9.92 million at the prison this year, which is about what was budgeted prior to the start of this fiscal year.
Revenue at the prison totaled $5,546.31 in June, made up of $1,750.11 in interest income, $400 in Social Security reimbursements, $271.20 in reimbursed expenditures, and a $3,125 transfer from the Prison Work Release program.
Population at the prison peaked at 228 inmates in June, including a peak female census of 42. The lowest census recorded during the month was 211.
The Work Release program remained active with 6 participating inmates, and the county’s VRP program had 3 participants. On staffing, Buchanan reported no correctional officers off duty and none on restricted duty at the time of the meeting.
Here’s a breakdown of June expenses at Schuylkill County Prison, along with year-to-date totals through June:
JUNE EXPENSES
| Salary – Department Head | $7,526.92 |
| Salaries – Deputies and Assistants | $68,930.79 |
| Wages – Deputies and Assistants | $4,585.44 |
| Salaries – Clerical Staff | $3,520.63 |
| Wages – Regular Employees | $279,598.92 |
| Wages – Regular Part Time | $987.67 |
| Wages – Overtime | $42,605.70 |
| In Lieu of Benefits | $420.00 |
| Materials & Supplies | $17,387.11 |
| Clothing and Bedding | $2,571.92 |
| Groceries | $61,086.72 |
| Cleaning Supplies | $2,027.84 |
| Uniforms | $4,509.33 |
| Fuel, Electric, Water, Sewer | $18,348.24 |
| Temporary Housing | $55,777.35 |
| Professional Services | $7,019.33 |
| Training | $6,050.00 |
| Travel Expenses | $2,138.75 |
| Non-Payroll Commissions | $3,360.96 |
| Inmate Wages | $573.00 |
| MAT Program | $6,202.20 |
| Maintenance & Repairs | $8,805.24 |
| Maintenance Agreements | $9,187.90 |
| Copier-Capital Leases | $91.68 |
| Capital Building & Improvement | $102,768.62 |
| Pre-Employment Physicals | $100.00 |
| Total Expenditures | $716,182.26 |
YEAR-TO-DATE 2026 (THROUGH JUNE)
| Salary – Department Head | $44,196.02 |
| Salaries – Deputies and Assistants | $380,516.75 |
| Wages – Deputies and Assistants | $26,924.39 |
| Salaries – Clerical Staff | $20,672.18 |
| Wages – Regular Employees | $1,593,417.48 |
| Wages – Regular Part Time | $21,150.19 |
| Wages – Overtime | $323,262.27 |
| In Lieu of Benefits | $2,397.50 |
| Materials & Supplies | $81,231.24 |
| Clothing and Bedding | $19,355.76 |
| Groceries | $288,646.56 |
| Cleaning Supplies | $14,379.38 |
| Uniforms | $9,274.81 |
| Fuel, Electric, Water, Sewer | $95,889.61 |
| Temporary Housing | $341,940.79 |
| Professional Services | $1,063,184.61 |
| Training | $6,050.00 |
| Dues and Conferences | $77.62 |
| Travel Expenses | $6,410.88 |
| Non-Payroll Commissions | $8,833.45 |
| Inmate Wages | $2,859.00 |
| MAT Program | $187,693.03 |
| Maintenance & Repairs | $122,954.17 |
| Maintenance Agreements | $24,390.74 |
| Software Subscriptions | $1,636.00 |
| Copier-Capital Leases | $1,008.48 |
| Capital Building & Improvement | $271,798.97 |
| Pre-employment Physicals | $150.00 |
| Total Expenditures | $4,960,301.88 |
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