Kaufman County judges and law enforcement back 32‑bed juvenile detention center; commissioners call May bond election

Kaufman County Commissioners on Thursday approved an order calling for a bond election in May to fund construction of a 32‑bed juvenile detention center and an on‑site juvenile alternative education program.

County officials said a targeted construction budget of $40 million will cap the project. County consultants reported a program for a 32‑bed facility with supporting intake, medical, secure and educational space and indoor and outdoor recreation areas could be delivered within that cap, with a current design footprint of about 34,000 square feet.

The consultants said estimated construction costs for the detention building, allowances for subsurface/foundation work, and other project contingencies come to just over $32 million in today’s dollars. Adding soft costs and owner contingencies pushes the total to about $37.5 million; when escalated to a 2026 construction start the county’s estimate rises to roughly $39.34 million—still within the $40 million cap, the consultant said. County staff estimated annual operating costs, once fully staffed, could be on the order of $3 million a year.

Why it matters: Judges, chiefs and school officials told the court the county currently lacks local juvenile detention capacity, forcing long transports that take officers off patrol and sometimes result in…