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Oversight board urges Oklahoma County commissioners to pursue all funding options for new jail
Summary
The Citizen's Oversight Advisory Board voted to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners aggressively pursue funding for the new Oklahoma County Adult Detention Center, citing years of planning, existing bond constraints and the risk of federal intervention.
The Citizen's Oversight Advisory Board voted to recommend that the Oklahoma County Board of County Commissioners "aggressively pursue all funding options to build the new jail as soon as possible as designed." The recommendation was read into the record by staff and recorded as approved by the advisory board.
The motion followed a briefing on project design and project finances. Board members were told the detention center design is nearly complete and that the county has roughly $218,000,000 shown on the project accounting, including bond proceeds, some of which remain unsold or encumbered. The presenters said $45 million in bonds were sold three years ago but not fully spent; roughly $13 million of that package must be expended in the next 11 months to avoid arbitrage-related penalties.
Why it matters: board members stressed that funding uncertainty threatens the project timeline after nearly two decades of planning and could leave the county exposed to higher costs. One member warned that federal Department of Justice oversight could force a different, costlier outcome if local officials do not act.
Board discussion focused on funding options and timing. Members noted Oklahoma County does not collect a county sales tax, placing it at a disadvantage compared with other counties. The board discussed possible next-year proposals including so‑called "sin" taxes (tobacco, alcohol or similar excise levies) and other excise taxes to fund capital and longer-term operations. Bond financings and early-working packages were discussed as interim measures but described as expensive. Members also raised the county’s obligation to spend certain previously issued bond proceeds within statutory timelines to avoid penalties.
The advisory board’s motion asked the county commissioners to explore all possible revenue sources and to act quickly if a feasible package can be identified. The motion was seconded and recorded as approved; individual roll-call votes were not transcribed in full in the meeting record.
Presenters and members also reviewed costs tied to the county’s related Behavioral Care Center: that project is funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and a separate $10 million one‑time ARPA allocation, and staff reported a recent site-condition change order of about $300,000 that has increased that project’s cost to date.
Board members and a number of public commenters urged commissioners to reach internal agreement on funding and to coordinate with cities and other stakeholders so costs and responsibilities are shared. The board also asked staff to notify members by email of upcoming county-commission presentations on the topic so advisory-board members may follow or comment as appropriate.
The advisory board’s recommendation is advisory only; final decisions on taxes, bond sales or other revenue actions rest with the Board of County Commissioners.
The board moved next to other agenda items after the vote; staff said final construction documents for the detention center should be available in roughly 30 days.
