The new annual ceiling is $6,344,005

Kern’s amendment with Summit Food Service increases the annual maximum by $160,764 to $6,344,005 for October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. The prior implied ceiling was $6,183,241.

The change is 2.60%. The board summary says the amendment adjusts the per-meal price, but the public agenda text does not state the old and new rates or the meal count used to reach the annual maximum.

Annual contract ceiling
MeasureAmount
Prior implied maximum$6,183,241
Increase+$160,764
New maximum$6,344,005
Percentage increase2.60%

The approval follows the effective date

The price period began October 1, while the board considered the amendment October 27. That makes the action retroactive for nearly four weeks.

Continuity of jail meals can make uninterrupted service necessary, but retroactive approval narrows the window for public review before a new price takes effect. The packet does not describe an interruption or emergency.

A cap is not actual spending

The $6.34 million figure is a maximum, not evidence that Kern will pay the full amount. Actual cost depends on meals served, eligible charges and contract administration.

Without meal counts and unit prices, readers cannot test whether the 2.6% ceiling change reflects only the new rate, a volume assumption or both. Those inputs should be reconciled in invoices and population records.

Method and limits

What’s the Scoop With Broach subtracted the amendment from the new maximum to derive the prior ceiling and calculated the percentage change. The analysis does not evaluate nutrition, sanitation or meal quality.

The public packet does not publish invoices, menus, caloric standards, individual facility populations or realized meal counts. It supports a price-ceiling and timing finding, not a claim that the vendor collected $6.34 million.

Sources and further reading

Kern Board agenda, item 38, October 27, 2026 ↗

Summit Food Service price amendment ↗

Alcatraz prison kitchen photograph and CC BY-SA 4.0 license ↗