(Photo courtesy of Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Facebook)

MCSO's Fourth Avenue Jail in downtown Phoenix.

(Photo by Jimmy Jenkins - KJZZ)

Mesa Interim Police Chief Michael Dvorak looks on as Commander Michael Beaton and Core Civic representative Carlos Melendez answer questions.

The Mesa City Council approved a contract with private prison operator Core Civic to transport and hold misdemeanor offenders at a facility in Florence.

Instead of paying the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) to book and house inmates, Mesa will now pay Core Civic a monthly fee for housing and transportation.

MCSO currently charges $306 to book an inmate. MCSO said booking fees will likely increase $10-$15 as a result of Mesa’s decision to privatize. The booking fee is now projected to increase to $337 by fiscal year 2018-19.

MCSO does not know if daily housing costs will be affected. When they are finalized, the new fees will take effect July first.

MCSO said Mesa misdemeanor offenders account for about 3.5 percent of total bookings. Mesa will continue to book and house felony offenders at the county jail.