DeKalb County Council advances jail planning after fiscal advisers outline income‑tax options

DeKalb County Council members spent the bulk of their June 10 meeting focused on next steps for a proposed county jail and how to pay for it. County fiscal adviser Jeff Peters told the council that if the county continues its correctional facility income tax through 2028, "I think it's going to be $11 million, a little bit more," money that could be used to advance site work and update designs.

That fiscal overview came amid repeated calls from commissioners to update decade‑old jail plans before committing to a construction schedule. Commissioners said earlier designs need changes for Americans with Disabilities Act and other code updates; one estimate cited during discussion put a worst‑case cost near $50 million, a figure several members described as "jaw‑dropping." A consultant example Peters shared cited a 112‑bed project with an all‑in cost of about $38.5 million.

Why it matters: a project of this scale will likely require dedicated debt service and a financing approach that avoids a property‑tax referendum. Peters explained that current law creates thresholds that trigger petition‑driven referenda if a property‑tax security is used and the project exceeds a statutory cap (about $20.6 million in the year discussed). "Most people would be looking at an income tax solution so that you did not have to go through the property tax procedures," he said.

Council members repeatedly framed two near‑term decisions. First, they asked commissioners to return with a firm cost to update the existing plans so the county can assess whether to proceed with design revisions or new designs. Second, several members urged creating a restricted jail fund — moving reserves out of an unconstrained "rainy day" balance and earmarking them to protect against state backfill rules or future revenue shocks.

Councilors and staff also discussed operational mitigants. Peters and others noted that community corrections and work‑release programs keep some people out of the jail and reduce immediate capacity pressure. Still, county reports presented to the council show consistent occupancy above intended capacity levels, which members said supports at least continuing planning work.

What's next: commissioners agreed to bring back a dollar estimate for updating plans and a proposal for a jail fund. Peters offered to remain available during the July–August budget process to model options; councilors signaled they want hard numbers before authorizing design updates or debt issuance.

Quote: "I think it's going to be $11 million, a little bit more," Jeff Peters said of the correctional facility income tax balance for planning and early engineering work.

The council did not take final action to authorize construction funding; the matter remains in the planning and design stage.