The Cochise County Board of Supervisors was briefed July 31 on a proposed budget and associated actions for a new county jail and on a separate memorandum of understanding to share health-related data to improve continuity of care for people entering and leaving custody. County staff placed a design, engineering and construction budget for the jail on the agenda “in a not to exceed amount of $130,000,000,” and said the board will consider that budget by formal vote before a planned publicity pamphlet is distributed. Miss Gilman, County Administrator, said the board should reach consensus through a vote before the pamphlet is published.

The matter is before the board as part of the jail district agenda. Miss Gilman said terms of the construction contract are still being finalized and expected “by the second meeting in August,” identifying the regular Aug. 19 meeting as the target to present contract terms. The jail district also has public hearings scheduled on the continued establishment of the jail district; staff explained a separate resolution ordering continued establishment will follow that hearing.

Separately, Megan Kennedy, county staff, described a memorandum of understanding with Arizona Complete Health and the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office that the county will ask the board to approve at an upcoming meeting. Kennedy said the MOU would create a data-sharing arrangement “with no cost exchange,” allowing Arizona Complete Health and the sheriff’s office to “jointly establish systems and timely data exchange” to coordinate care when people are booked into the jail and when they are released. Kennedy said the agreement is intended to let health providers know, for example, when a client missed an appointment because they were incarcerated and to restore continuity of care after release.

The board discussed sequencing the items: the budget vote is being placed before publicity for the jail project, and staff said contract terms and the MOU would be presented at upcoming meetings. No formal motions or votes on the budget, contract or MOU were recorded during the work session; staff listed the items for action on the next regular meeting agendas.

Background: staff framed the budget placement as following prior discussions about the jail district and recent litigation and settlement related to the district’s establishment. The public hearing and subsequent resolution on continuing the jail district are being scheduled under legal guidance so the board formally recognizes the district before related mailings or ballots are finalized.

Questions remaining include final contract terms and the timing of formal board action. The board will take formal action on these items at upcoming public meetings where votes will be recorded.