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Citrus County commissioners split on for-cause termination of CoreCivic jail contract
Summary
The Board debated and narrowly rejected a motion to direct staff to prepare a for-cause termination notice to CoreCivic after testimony from the sheriff on costs, staffing and liability. Commissioners who favored the move cited inmate deaths and staffing shortfalls; others said financial and legal risks were unresolved.
The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners debated whether to direct staff to prepare a for-cause termination notice to CoreCivic, the private contractor operating the county jail.
Chair Diana Finnegan brought the item forward, saying recent problems at the facility made it time to act. The sheriff, identified in the record as Sheriff Vincent, told commissioners he believed county control would improve safety and that the sheriff operation: "If you want a professional run organization at our jail, I think the answer is very clear." He also presented an estimated first-year capital and transition cost (roughly $2.6M to $3.0M in initial equipment plus staffing and operating projections) and said a $12 million bond in the CoreCivic contract could help cover transition expenses.
Opponents on the board and several commissioners asked for more detailed, written assurances before taking an adversarial step that could prompt litigation or require the county to front large transition costs immediately. They pressed for written commitments about what CoreCivic would leave behind, timing for accessing any contract bond, and a clearer line-by-line projection of the operating and capital costs of county operation.
The county attorney cautioned commissioners about legal exposure and noted that termination for cause could change CoreCivic's willingness to cooperate on transition details.
Members of the public who spoke during the item largely supported the sheriff taking over operations, citing alleged understaffing, overdoses and other incidents reported at the facility.
After extended discussion, the motion to direct staff to prepare a for-cause termination notice and to authorize the chair to sign it failed on a 3-2 vote. The board instead left open the possibility of seeking written assurances and additional financial detail and permitted commissioners to bring future motions on the topic.
The procedural vote left the existing CoreCivic contract in place; staff and commissioners indicated they would seek more information about transition costs, what equipment CoreCivic would keep or leave, and whether state or federal grants could offset early capital needs.
The board moved on to other business after voting on the consent agenda.
