XENIA, Ohio -- Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer said Friday a move by the state to cut costs will end up costing local taxpayers more money.

It follows the announcement from Gov. Ted Strickland to close the state mental hospital in Dayton, known as Twin Valley.

In an interview with WHIOTV.COM, Fischer said inmates from the Greene County jail are transported to Twin Valley for mental health services when a judge orders an evaluation or other special attention.

The June 30 shutdown of Twin Valley will require Fischer to send his inmates to the state facility in Columbus.

The move will involve a much longer commute at higher cost.

“Right away we knew it was bad,” Fischer said.

Fischer said he has not calculated the extra cost just yet, but is worried the longer transport of inmates will require taking deputies off the street when inmates have to be taken to Columbus.

“Greene County is going through tight budgets just like the state is so we will use people who are normally assigned to the road,” Fischer said.

The problem will likely be much worse for Montgomery County, according to Commissioner Judge Dodge.

Dodge said she and other commissioners were caught off-guard by the Twin Valley closing announcement.

“This has been a real blow for all of us,” Dodge said.

Montgomery County will likely send its jail inmates to a state facility in Cincinnati for treatment.

Dodge said the initial estimate for the longer transport will be $90,000 to $200,000 a year.

Dodge and Fischer said local counties may have to work together to pool their resources when inmates must be transported to other parts of the state for mental health services.

Find out more about the Twin Valley closing by clicking here to read a statement from the Ohio Department of Mental Health.

Jim.otte@whiotv.com