While Butler County is slated to receive less than $500,000 this year for housing state inmates, that number is expected to increase in 2011.

State inmates were brought into Butler County Prison starting in April, so the county couldn't reap a full year's worth of revenue.

Prison income was discussed this morning at the county prison board meeting. As of today, there were 24 state inmates in the prison.

Charging the state a daily rate of $60 for each inmate, the county through September received $276,480.

Once outstanding invoices are paid, that number will rise to $339,840.

Bill O'Donnell, chief county clerk, hopes to budget more for state inmate revenue in 2011.

"Hopefully, it will increase," he said.

Multiplying the daily rate by 30 inmates and 365 days, the county would get $657,000. Housing a yearlong average of 24 inmates would bring in $525,600.

Those potential profits could expand further.

O'Donnell said the county may be able to house significantly more state inmates later in 2011 as many are currently housed outside Pennsylvania.