JEFFERSON COUNTY — Jefferson County Sheriff Travis Allen has announced a move that he says will save the county tens-of-thousands of dollars each year.

Allen says the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has been using Aramark Foodservice for inmate food for the past few years. Aramark is currently providing meals at $2.46 per meal, but he says his office has negotiated a deal with Consolidated Correctional Foodservice to provide meals at $1.71 per meal.

According to Allen, with an average of 75 inmates per day, the county will serve approximately 82,000 meals per year, so the new plan could save tax payers between $50,000 and $60,000 per year.

Allen explains that the Illinois Department of Corrections states that jails must provide inmates at least 1,800 calories per day and a dietitian approved meal plan.

He says the new meal plan covers all of those requirements, and will begin on December 1, 2015.