Jefferson County commissioners are seeking state help to offset costs to the county of gambling. Those costs include putting people in jail.

Last year, 60 people looking to gamble in Central City and Black Hawk, ended up being booked into the Jefferson County Detention Facility for various reasons. Booking fees, medical fees and facility costs were calculated to find the $65,400 figure.

Jeffco Sheriff’s Office Grant Specialist Beth Mudell said deputies routinely ask where detained drivers are going and where they’ve been.

“We have the major highways going from the gaming communities to the metro area, and the increase in arrests we see is a major source of (gaming) impacts,” Mudell said.

The Board of County Commissioners on May 29 approved an application asking the state for a $65,400 grant to offset some of the costs the county says it incurs. If selected, Jeffco would receive the funding by December.

The Limited Gaming Impact Program was created in 1997 to provide funds to local governments in counties adjacent to Central City, Black Hawk and Cripple Creek to help mitigate the effects of gambling. The program is guaranteed a minimum of 13 percent of the state’s annual tax revenues from gaming. Funding also comes from fees and fines. The state awarded $3.8 million in 2011 to be used in 2012.

Mudell said in years past the Sheriff’s Department has sought grant money to cover the personnel costs associated with gaming-related arrests. She said its is difficult to quantify those costs, which makes it harder to win a grant.

Golden Fire seeking search and rescue grant

Also during the May 29 commissioners meeting, the board gave its approval to the Golden Fire District to seek a state grant for just under $20,000 to buy equipment for water and mountain rescues. The equipment would include a water-rescue craft and 10 wet suits.

“It’s going to upgrade some of our aging swift-water equipment,” Golden Fire Chief John Bales said. “We’re at a point where a good number of our suits need replacing.”