12/17/13 - Plans for a possible expansion or other improvements at the Livingston County Jail will be the topic of study for county officials in the New Year. A review and analysis of County finances was provided by the director of Ann Arbor-based Public Financial Management at Monday nightâs meeting of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners. Chairwoman Carol Griffith says the board has been studying a jail expansion for the last couple of years and right now, it looks as though adding on to the current facility and extra jail pods could help alleviate current problems but at a cost of $13.5 (m) million. Griffith tells WHMI the larger piece is how to fund jail operations and what must still be decided is exactly how it could all be done in the most cost efficient and effective way for the County and taxpayers. The jail has been faced with overcrowding issues for years and talks of expansion have been reoccurring but the issue took on greater urgency after a photograph of female inmates crammed into a holding cell was made public by Sheriff Bob Bezotte, who was not in attendance at the meeting. Bezotte has said county officials canceled his presentation on the issue due to concerns over a possible lawsuit. Both Griffith and County Administrator Belinda Peters dispute that and say they are unaware of what Bezotte is referring to. Griffith says the process for an expansion takes time, noting the financial analysis alone took three months to prepare. It did offer some recommendations to finance a jail expansion. The County could issue limited tax general obligation bonds to finance the construction piece, with the annual bond payments coming from the Countyâs delinquent tax revolving fund balance. A millage could also be put before voters or the general fund could be utilized. Griffith tells WHMI itâs complicated when it comes to how to best pay for construction, but more so jail operations once anything is built since the majority of the general fund is made up of personal property tax revenue and that canât be relied upon. The County Finance Committee will meet January 8th at 7:30am with the sole focus on the possible jail expansion and operations. (JM)
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