Security costs money. Inmates cost money. The Utah Department of Corrections contracts with county jails to house state inmates because of money and bed space issues. Noel said he is able to house the inmates for 30 percent less than it costs the state prisons.

The Beaver County Jail houses the most state inmates, about 357 of them. Recently, the jail expanded to house all those inmates.

"They're paying us $42.30 per day and that's not cutting it anymore," Noel said. "That was set 10 years ago. It costs more money to house these guys. It costs more money for me to pay guards, to provide security. The state, the legislature and the governor need to do more."

Noel, whose father is a state lawmaker from southern Utah, said the legislature needs to increase funding for corrections. In turn, county facilities will also benefit if the cost to house inmates is increased.

"It goes toward more security, better personnel, gates, those things," the sheriff said. "Right now, I'm six officers down. It's difficult for me to attract a job pool of guards for 12 bucks an hour."

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com