County presents $2.5 billion five‑year capital plan; Santa Rita Jail projects, gaps highlighted

County General Services Agency Director Kimberly Gasaway and Caitlin Chen presented the county's five‑year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) on July 28, outlining $2.5 billion in total cost estimates across GSA, Public Works Agency (PWA) and tier 1 projects and identifying approximately $1.6 billion in revenue sources.

Chen told supervisors the initial funding gap was $914 million but would be reduced to about $504 million after layering in $410 million in cash on hand from the special capital construction fund. "Total cost estimates over the 5 year plan, as I said earlier, are 2,500,000,000," she said.

The presenters broke out GSA's portfolio and specifically detailed Santa Rita Jail work: a series of board‑approved projects totaling about $428 million with $92.5 million spent to date and $223.3 million requested in appropriations for FY26‑27. GSA staff said ongoing work includes ADA upgrades, network infrastructure, enhanced outdoor recreation yards, kitchen renovation and critical operations; several projects are in design or under progressive design‑build contracts with completion schedules stretching to 2030 for complex elements.

Supervisors pressed staff on options to close the CIP gap, including timing and prudence around bond issuance, which projects are shovel ready, and the accounting treatment that requires reappropriation of capital funds each fiscal year. Supervisor Tam suggested the county may consider bond financing for shovel‑ready projects if the timing is right; staff said the county would analyze project readiness and market timing before recommending bond measures.

Ending

Staff said they will upload the presentation materials and bring a board letter to approve the five‑year CIP in a subsequent meeting; supervisors asked GSA to dust off prior real estate master‑planning work and return with a facilities assessment to inform any future bond or large capital decisions.