Commission approves $402,607.67 transfer for jail project; open house scheduled

Marion County commissioners approved a recommendation to transfer $402,607.67 from the county’s capital improvements fund to the jail project.

A county finance official said the transfer is part of the original financing plan and is intended to cover most, but not all, remaining construction bills. “It’s not quite all of the construction. There’s going to be some residual bills come through, but it’s, at the end. And if this is within our budget, we have budgeted to cash out one of our CDs. … Instead of cashing out a CD, just pull it out of capital improvement,” the official said.

Why it matters: The transfer moves existing budgeted money to pay construction costs without an unplanned cash‑out of a certificate of deposit, the official said. Commissioners voted after a motion and second and recorded “all in favor.” No vote tally by name was read into the record.

Open house announcement: County leaders invited residents to tour the new jail before the transition from the old facility. The sheriff and commissioners planned an open house on a Sunday afternoon with the time given in the meeting as 2 to 4 p.m.; the transcript did not specify a calendar date. The county said the facility transition would start in the coming weeks.

Participants and attributions: The transfer was explained by county finance staff and approved by the commission; the open house invitation was announced by a commissioner noting the sheriff’s and commissioners’ plan.

Ending: County staff said they expect some residual bills as the project wraps up and that the transfer was provided from within existing capital improvement funds.