Dubois County Jail expansion project slowed as economic impact uncertain
The loss of income taxes will likely impact the county’s ability to move forward with the new jail project.
“I think we are going to need to make some choices,” Commissioner Chad Blessinger. “The money that is going to pay for the project is down.”
The Correctional and Rehabilitative Facilities Local Income Tax (C and R) funding is based on a .2 percent increase in the county’s income tax. With people not working, this fund will take a hit although that impact is not yet known.
In March, the Dubois County Council agreed to place a hold on $4 million it had authorized to go towards the project.
As such, Blessinger told the commissioners he would propose the county should prioritize the project as it moves forward. The jail pod would be first priority and then community corrections updates followed by the proposed justice center.
“I still hold out hope — trying to be positive here — there is discussion on the federal side to provide money for state and local governments, maybe, just maybe, we will get some money from federal,” said Commissioner Elmer Brames. “Obviously we need to set priorities but I am holding out hope we will be okay.”
Blessinger said that in conversations with two council members, he felt the county would move forward in a more conservative manner. The impact of the downtown turn created by the coronavirus will impact the 2022 budget for the county.
“I am sensing apprehension from the (county) council, they agreed to advertise for four to five million dollars a couple of months ago, I think they will want to hold back on that regardless of whether we got federal money in,” Blessinger said adding that the county will continue funding the planning for the project.
“From an emotional standpoint, I say these projects are all necessary or we would never have been talking about them,” Blessinger said. “On the rational side, it is probably safe and smart to proceed cautiously even if it means not getting what we thought was pertinent a couple months ago.”
The commissioner’s meeting can be viewed here.
https://www.facebook.com/DuboisCountyGovernment/videos/1883918565240789/
So here is my question. With the new requirements placed on county jails by the state as to what offenders will actually be booked into jail, verses those that are arrested, taken to jail and IMMEDIATELY bonded out (non-violent offenses), why are they looking at a new facility with over 200+ beds?
Will defer to you as I don’t know the law well enough, but maybe that’s only for FIRST-TIME non-violent crime/arrests – but repeat violators/criminals are mandated to some sort of limited incarceration and/or serve a sentence, and repeaters are simply increasing? Or, maybe crimes/criminals other than non-violent (more violent crime/criminals) are increasing? Or, maybe simply that the red-tape of bureaucratic oversight requirements – not unlike the what/how of ADA and other various upgrade mandates for any new or revisions, improvements, et al, can be constructed (to meet/satisfy certain standards for the entire concept-design) and it was cheaper to build new. Maybe a combination.
Think about it. If they are releasing “non-violent” offenders immediately upon arrest and being brought to the jail, that means less people sitting around waiting for hearings and/or bonding out. So let’s take those folks off of the jail population count. That means more open beds for those that have been convicted and given jail time. And, from what I hear and read, violent crimes aren’t up in Dubois County. It begs the question: Are these new beds going to be filled with Indiana Department of Corrections prisoners, therefore paying the sheriff’s department to house them? It’s a legitimate question that needs to be asked of our county council and sheriff. My property taxes shouldn’t be raised for that reason.