Stillwater to close city jail, projects more than $1 million in annual savings under county agreement

The Stillwater City Council approved an agreement April 20 to close the city's municipal jail and transfer prisoner housing to the Payne County Jail beginning July 1 — a move that Police Chief Chris Hassig says could save the city more than $1 million a year.

The city currently spends roughly $1.1 million annually on jail salaries, benefits, and equipment. Under the new agreement, the city will pay Payne County $27 per prisoner per day. Based on 2025 booking volume, Hassig estimates annual costs will run between $27,000 and $54,000 (at $27 per day, 1,010 prisoners at a one-day average stay would cost approximately $27,270; a two-day average would run approximately $54,540). The agreement also sets separate rates for prisoner transport at $35 per hour for staff time and $55 per hour if the city fails to assume a hospital watch.

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