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The Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety that oversees West Virginia's regional jails is seeking to collect a $1.3 million debt that Webster County owes for inmate jail fees.
The agency says in a statement that the Regional Jail Authority filed a petition with the state Supreme Court this week.
It seeks to divert state tax revenues that normally would go to Webster County to offset the county's unpaid bill for daily fees the state charges to house its inmates, essentially attaching funds the county would be receiving.
Webster County hasn't paid its per-diem fees since 2012.
Webster County Commissioner Jerry Hamrick said his rural county with a small tax bases doesn't have the money to pay the debt.
The Calhoun Commission, which is under the low Class 9 tax rate, has struggled at times to pay the jail bill.
More than a decade ago, the county got behind with payment, but continued to make payments until caught up.
In more recent years, commissioners have managed to pay the monthly bill.
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