BLOOMINGTON -- The McLean County Sheriff's Department will begin outsourcing jail food service Sept. 1, saving the county about $200,000 a year.

"By outsourcing, we will be getting the same level of service with the same or greater calorie count … at less then what we budgeted for food alone," said Sheriff Mike Emery.

The McLean County Board on Tuesday approved a contract with low-bidder Aramark of Downers Grove, for the food service. Aramark also has jail food service contracts in Boone, Champaign, Cook, Ford, Kane, Livingston, McHenry and Rock Island.

Emery said the McLean County Jail food service budget has typically based per-meal costs on the cost of food alone. The average cost was about $1.03 to $1.07 per meal under that system.

However, he said, when the full cost of the program, including staff and benefits, was considered, the $445,167 program cost increased the per-meal cost to $2.18.

Aramark can provide 180 meals for $242,650 or $1.27 per meal, a savings of $195,047 for fiscal budget 2010. The per meal cost decreases as the jail population increases.

Emery said four staff members will be affected. The senior cook recently took the county's early retirement option and another employee is leaving at the end of August for a job outside of the county.

A third employee will help with the transition to Aramark until January and then be offered another job within the county. The fourth employee also will be offered another job within the county.

The two employees also will have a chance to interview with Aramark. Each of the four employees is represented by a union.

The savings the change will bring will reduce the sheriff's budget and ultimately help the county's general fund.

County Board Chairman Matt Sorensen said board members currently are in their second round of working with department heads to "find ways to trim the budget and save."

"We're really focused on not letting the financial crisis get so far ahead that we have to make broad sweeping changes like others," Sorensen said.