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ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — Dougherty County commissioners have approved renewing a multimillion-dollar contract to provide medical care for inmates at the county jail. Officials said this year’s cost is higher than expected.

The county’s agreement with First Class Health Care covers everything from inmate intake screenings and ongoing medical treatment to outside appointments and mental health care.

The three-year contract is now in its second year. Commissioners approve renewing it for just over $8.4 million more than last year, because of a deferred payment from year one.

“First Class Health Care opted to defer a portion of that first-year payment, and then we would repay that over the next two years with interest,” Chief Deputy John Ostrander of the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office said. “So that helped Dougherty County get into the contract.”

That deferral of $800,000 added $64,000 in accrued interest, making year two of the contract more expensive, according to county leaders.

“The goal was to defer the upfront costs to the later two years of a three-year contract to allow for a much smoother transition financially,” Dougherty County Administrator Deron King said.

Ostrander says the expense is necessary, and skipping inmate medical care would cost taxpayers more in the long run.

“Any inmate in the Dougherty County jail is in the custody of the government. The government has a responsibility to take care of those people. And if we fail in that responsibility, the resulting litigation would bankrupt Dougherty County,” Ostrander said.

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Officials say First Class Health Care was the lowest bidder when the contract went out for a bid. The county can re-evaluate or rebid the contract when the three-year deal expires.

The contract is funded through Dougherty County’s General Fund.

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