The Butler County Prison already has generated more revenue than budgeted for 2014.

According to county controller records, the prison brought in $1.9 million from January through September. The amount budgeted for the entire year is $34,732 less.

Controller Ben Holland said at the county prison board meeting Tuesday the total revenue for the year should exceed $2 million.

“We continue to be on pace for $2.5 million,” Holland said.

However, he reiterated there’s no guarantee that number would be reached.

Prison revenue offsets the budgeted $10.6 million cost to operate the facility.

Most of the prison revenue, $1.85 million, comes from housing state and federal inmates.

The county charges the state a daily rate of $70 per inmate. The U.S. Marshal’s Office in Pittsburgh pays the county a daily rate of $76 for housing federal prisoners.

Of the county prison’s nine-month revenue total, $972,344 was paid for federal inmates and $787,680 for state prisoners.

The county received another $88,260 from housing Fayette County inmates in the early part of the year. The housing fee assessed to other counties is $60.

Sheriff Mike Slupe, who is on the prison board with Holland, said that source dried up.

“That kind of fizzled out,” Slupe said.

As of Tuesday, there were 387 inmates in the county prison. Of that total, 43 were federal prisoners and 38 were state inmates.

After discussing revenue, the prison board agreed to enter a mutual aid agreement with Venango County in an emergency requiring an inmate evacuation.

The agreement also needs the county commissioners’ approval, which is set for a vote today.

The county already has similar agreements with the state Department of Corrections and Mercer County.