Union County hears updated jail study showing lower-day capacity but large cost and timeline

Union County commissioners heard an update May 19 on a long‑running jail study that presented two replacement options — a 400‑bed facility with a 600‑bed core and a 500‑bed facility with the same core — along with preliminary construction, staffing and operational cost estimates.

The county’s facilities director, Chris Boyd, and consultants from Justice Planners and Little Architecture presented a programmatic square‑footage study and high‑level cost models. Consultant Alan Richardson said the 400‑bed option would be about 180,000 square feet and the 500‑bed option about 211,000 square feet; Thomas Carlson Redick of Little estimated construction costs for the 400‑bed option near $115 million (with soft costs and escalation included) and a higher total for the 500‑bed option.

The study included operational projections that assume a fully occupied facility. Richardson and Little presented staffing plans and an estimated “relief factor” to cover vacations, sick leave and other absences; Justice Planners estimated direct personnel costs at roughly $12.9 million annually for the 400‑bed option and $15.2 million for the 500‑bed option, with total operating costs (staff plus facility operations such as food and medical) of about $28 million and $32 million, respectively.

Why it matters: commissioners said the county’s jail has repeatedly exceeded rated capacity and that any replacement must balance near‑term needs, long‑term projections and available financing. The consultants’ five‑year projection showed an average daily population of about 349 inmates and a 5‑year bed need of 435; their longer‑term projection includes higher need scenarios.

Commissioners questioned whether prior design work paid for in earlier studies could be reused. The consultants said portions of earlier documents exist but changed codes, updated standards and different design assumptions (including a shift to double‑occupancy cells) mean much of the old design would likely require substantial revision; they committed to review prior documents for salvageable elements but cautioned that code and program changes limit reuse.

Commissioners also asked about timelines: the consultants said a typical design period (schematic through construction documents, permitting and bidding) would be about one year and construction three years or more, making the overall delivery roughly four years from start of design. Commissioners pressed whether a 400‑bed facility would already be at operational capacity once opened; consultants noted that operationally a jail is effectively full at about 80–85% of bed count because of classification, gender separation and maintenance needs.

Several commissioners asked about shorter‑term capacity measures. Commissioner Sides described visiting Cabarrus County’s annex and proposed exploring a contract with Cabarrus County to house a block of detainees there, with Cabarrus providing trained detention staff under contract while Union County pays costs. Sheriff Campbell and county staff said such intercounty arrangements require negotiations with the other sheriff and the other county’s board and present staffing and timing constraints; commissioners instructed staff to pursue conversations to learn feasibility and terms.

The board did not take a formal action to advance design or issue bonds at the meeting. Commissioners requested additional detail on prior study costs, options for reusing existing facilities, demolition costs for the present jail and refined staffing and operational analyses if the board decides to proceed.

The county manager and consultants said the numbers in the update are programmatic and will be refined if the board directs a formal design phase. No ordinance or borrowing was approved at the May 19 meeting; the presentation was an informational update and direction to staff to continue evaluating options.

Sources: presentation and Q&A during the Union County Board of Commissioners regular meeting, May 19, 2025.