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DeKalb County discusses $35 million plan for 182-bed jail; financing and liability questioned
Summary
DeKalb County commissioners reviewed a $35 million plan for a 182-bed county jail, confirming the budget includes soft costs and that financial adviser Steve Bates will market financing. Commissioners and attendees raised concerns that revenue from housing state prisoners may not cover added liabilities.
Unidentified Speaker 6 said the county has a resolution for a $35 million bond under consideration and described what that funding level would deliver: "This is what $35,000,000 will do, the 182 bed, facility, so." The discussion included bed counts, estimated soft costs and whether the new facility could house state detainees.
The measure under discussion envisions a 182-bed county jail and, according to participants, the $35 million figure is intended to include soft costs such as furniture and operating equipment. "We anticipated 1000000 dollars in soft cost and then, of course, our architect fee and then the actual construction fee," Unidentified Speaker 6 said, indicating an approximate $1 million soft-cost allowance within the project budget.
Unidentified Speaker 3, speaking from prior experience on the commission, said the earlier commission vote set a $35 million cap and asked whether the cap included soft costs; the group agreed it did. Speaker 3 cautioned against optimistic revenue assumptions tied to housing state prisoners, saying "the revenue does not outweigh the liability at all," and noting additional medical and care responsibilities could offset per-detainee payments.
Participants also discussed whether the facility would meet state standards needed to house state detainees. Unidentified Speaker 6 stated the design "meets the TCI standard," a reference in the discussion to a Tennessee corrections standard. Commissioners noted that housing state prisoners could be done "if you choose to," but several questioned whether the incremental revenue would justify the additional liabilities and operational demands.
On financing, Unidentified Speaker 6 said the county would follow up by marketing a debt note with banks; "Steve Bates, our financial adviser, will be doing" the shopping, according to the transcript. The conversation closed with commissioners moving on to the next agenda item, the data center ordinance.
The commission referenced a prior vote establishing the $35 million plan; the transcript does not provide the mover/second or a vote tally for that earlier action. Specifics such as a final adoption vote, a financing schedule, or project timeline were not recorded in this segment of the meeting.
