Kaufert acknowledged that some studies have indicated that hot food may be cheaper to serve, but he still does not like the state imposing the requirement on local governments.

Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney testified in support of the new regulations before the Assembly Committee on Corrections last week, saying his jail already has most of the standards in place and that the new rules were based on sound research.

In addition, he believes the hot meal requirement isn’t anywhere near as burdensome as it may sound.

“It could be hot beans and that qualifies as a hot meal,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that everybody is getting hot roast beef at dinner and turkey and mashed potatoes at lunch.”

There is still a lot of work to do at the Dane County jail, Mahoney said. He is particularly concerned about inmates the county is forced to isolate because of mental illness.

“We’re forcing people into solitary confinement through no fault of their own except that they’re mentally ill,” he said. “It’s something that bothers me on a daily basis.”