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DeKalb County sheriff asks for $16.3 million in 2025, outlines $36 million five‑year jail capital plan
Summary
DeKalb County’s sheriff detailed an immediate $16.3 million capital request for an aging 900,000-square-foot jail and presented a five‑year capital improvement plan that totals about $36 million, citing safety, accreditation standards and worsening repairs.
DeKalb County’s sheriff told the Finance, Audit and Budget Committee she is seeking $16.3 million in fiscal 2025 to address urgent repairs at the county jail and submitted a five‑year capital improvement plan totaling about $36 million.
The sheriff told commissioners the facility is more than 30 years old and described ongoing leaks, failing elevators, outdated plumbing fixtures and security hardware that she said must be replaced rather than repeatedly repaired. "These are needed, and we must get this in order to fulfill my obligation as the sheriff at this point," she said.
The request to the committee itemizes immediate priorities the sheriff described as essential to safety and to maintain accreditations from the American Correctional Association (ACA), the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) and CALEA (the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies). The sheriff said the facility holds "Triple Crown" accreditations and that outside inspectors evaluate building conditions as part of that process.
Why it matters: Commissioners pressed for details about costs, phasing and whether replacing systems now could reduce recurring repair costs. County staff and the sheriff’s fiscal manager said replacing systems and completing large projects sooner should reduce long‑term operating repairs. Committee members and the county’s facilities manager agreed to gather updated quotes and fold the sheriff’s list into the countywide CIP process.
Key figures and timing: The sheriff’s team presented the following planning figures: $16.3 million requested for fiscal 2025, roughly $10.3 million projected for 2026 and the remainder spread across later years to reach an updated five‑year total of about $36 million. The roof alone now carries an estimated total replacement cost of about $4.9 million, the sheriff said; stainless‑steel toilet and sink replacement that began with operating funds is now estimated at about $6.1 million. The sheriff’s staff said contractors are on standby but will not start major work until funding is in place.
Facility context: The sheriff described the building as a roughly 900,000‑square‑foot, eight‑floor facility sited on about 12.2 acres that, she said, has not undergone comprehensive preventive maintenance in prior administrations. She said limited upkeep and repeated patching have allowed problems to compound and that some fixtures present safety risks (for example, breakable porcelain used in housing areas).
What the committee directed: Commissioners asked the county’s budget and facilities staff to obtain and review the most recent, vendor‑level quotes and to integrate the sheriff’s priorities into the countywide CIP planning and funding discussions. County staff said a $1 million facility assessment line exists in SPLOST funding and that the administration and the sheriff will coordinate on quotes, phasing and potential operating savings from replacements (for example, upgraded lighting or a full roof replacement that reduces leaks and mold risk).
Next steps: Committee staff will receive the sheriff’s updated quote package, and commissioners said they would schedule a facility tour for members. The sheriff noted an audit is scheduled in March and said she wants visible progress before that review.
Ending: The committee did not take formal funding action at the meeting; members asked staff to validate quotes, fold the request into the broader CIP review and return with prioritized recommendations for the committee to consider in the budget cycle.
