Because of a bond refinancing approved by the county commissioners, the Butler County Prison will now be able to house more inmates from other counties or the federal justice system.

When the county commissioners refinanced a 2014 bond last month to save money on interest, the move also provided the opportunity to house more state and federal inmates at the Butler County Prison.

The bond's status changed from nontaxable, similar to nonprofit status, to taxable, meaning the county has free rein to earn revenue by housing more inmates at the prison who come from other counties or the federal system.

The jail has been housing a limited number of federal prisoners since 2012, but the federal system recently asked the county to house 100 inmates.

Warden Joe DeMore said at Tuesday morning's prison board meeting that the jail on South Washington Street now houses 298 inmates.

DeMore said 143 of those inmates are federal prisoners and three are from other counties.

Last month, the prison housed 40 federal inmates and three from other counties.

DeMore said no additional guards have been hired to manage the increased number of inmates.

This is an excerpt from a larger article that appears in Wednesday's Butler Eagle. Subscribe online or in print to read the full article.