HOUSTON -- Some Harris County jail inmates are about to get a one-way ticket out of state at a $1.2 million cost to taxpayers, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.

Harris County commissioners voted to ship 130 inmates to a detention center in Epps, La.

But that's just the beginning. The county is negotiating with other out-of-state facilities to accept an additional 1,000 inmates.

The plan to ease overcrowding in the four Harris County jails is drawing criticism.

Inmates and their families said it would create a hardship for those who want to visit their incarcerated loved ones.

"Maybe I'd see him once a month, but it would be hard because I would have to take the bus," said Lillie Rubica, who was reunited with her husband after he was released from jail. "Transportation for a car, gas (to drive to Louisiana) is too expensive."

The county is more concerned with the jail overcrowding and the cost to taxpayers.

"At some point, something needs to change," County Judge Ed Emmett told Local 2. "We have to look at not incarcerating so many people or we need to come up with a new facility."

The total annual cost of sending inmates out of state is estimated to be $38 per day per inmate. Eventually, that would cost an estimated $24 million.

The inmates being considered for transfer are primarily state parole violators and those inmates who are serving state jail felony sentences in country facilities.

County officials said local taxpayers are footing the bill for housing state inmates.

"The state should take their prisoners, and if they're not, they should at least pay us to handle their prisoners," said Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack.

Tuesday's decision means that the county inmates will be shipped to Louisiana within the next few weeks.

The Harris County jails were built to hold 9,400 inmates. Currently, 11,000 are locked up -- a violation of state jail standards on overcrowding.