Cochise County outlines $130 million jail expansion, proposes sales-tax bond for November ballot

Cochise County staff outlined plans for a proposed $130,000,000 jail project that would build capacity for 400 inmates now and allow two additional dormitories later to house another 200, funding construction with a sales-tax-backed bond the county intends to place on the November ballot.

A staff member said, "And that budget is a $130,000,000. That includes all the costs associated with, hiring, architects and consultants." The same staff member described the plan as a staged build: "So we can come back 50 years from now if we have to add those 2 additional, dormitories to add 200. So we're gonna build for capacity of 400 now with the support services to support."

County staff emphasized timing and voter risk. "That is the intent right now," the staff member said, noting the county would pursue a bond and a sales-tax measure. The staff member added that if voters do not approve the tax in November, "we're on the hook for paying that back, because it would come out of the current jail tax that…