Grady County Sheriff’s Office proposes higher fees to house Cairo city inmates

Published: Sep. 14, 2026 at 11:11 PM EDT

GRADY COUNTY, Ga. (WCTV) - The City of Cairo discussed its jail housing intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Grady County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) Monday night.

GCSO asked the city for more money to house its inmates earlier this month. The city currently pays $25 per inmate per day in the agreement that started back in 2001.

According to the city attorney, GCSO proposed the rate increase to $65 per inmate, with a $35 booking fee.

Cairo Mayor Arlisha Williams said that the amount exceeds the amount that has been normally asked from the surrounding countries they have researched.

“I believe that gives the city attorney an opportunity to go back and revisit with the county attorney as well as with the county commission, and also gives our council an opportunity to go back and sit and negotiate,” Williams said.

City officials said they hope to discuss the terms of the proposal with the county to have a new IGA as soon as possible.

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