# Lincoln County Revises Inmate Housing Contract with Minnehaha

Lincoln County, South Dakota, has approved a revised inmate housing contract with Minnehaha County effective January 1, 2027. The new agreement increases the per-inmate daily rate from $131.90 to $142.33 but reduces the guaranteed minimum bed count from 45 to 35. This adjustment is projected to save Lincoln County approximately $500,000 annually despite the higher rate. County officials are also evaluating alternative jail facilities to optimize costs and capacity.

- The contract value is estimated at around $2.5 million annually plus the adjusted per-inmate daily rate.
- Procurement professionals should note the trade-off between higher per-unit costs and reduced minimum commitments as a cost management strategy.
- This development signals potential opportunities for other regional detention facilities to compete for inmate housing contracts.
- Agencies managing inmate housing contracts may benefit from reviewing bed guarantees and rate structures to balance budget constraints and service needs.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety
**Topics:** Contracting Vehicles
**Published:** September 23, 2026

### Government Entities
- Lincoln County
- Minnehaha County
- Yankton County

### Key Quotes
> If I use the 35 inmate example all year for 2027, we'd be looking at about a $500,000 savings, which could potentially offset the increase.
> — Chad Brown, Chief Deputy

> She suggested the county review other jails.
> — Linda Montgomery, Resident

### Sources
- [$10 more, fewer beds for Lincoln inmates in Minnehaha](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/10-more-fewer-beds-lincoln-193453350.html) - Yahoo