4/24/14 - The final recommendation on how to pay for the upcoming expansion to the Livingston County Jail will be presented to the full County Commission on Monday. Commissioner Don Parker chairs the Jail Improvement Committee, which was tasked with working out funding proposals for the expansion. It presented formal recommendations to the County Finance Committee during its meeting yesterday morning. The projected construction cost of the jail expansion is $16.7 million and, following the presentation, the Finance Committee authorized a resolution of intent to issue $14.2 million in bonds. Those bonds must still be approved by the full board. The Livingston County Democratic Party and its candidates for the county commission issued a press release today criticizing the plan. They say alternatives to jail sentencing should be expanded and the money for the expansion spent on roads. They also criticized the proposed funding mechanism for the project, which they say reduces the countyâs flexibility. Those comments prompted Commissioner Steve Williams to issue a formal statement, which is attached below. The Jail Improvement Committeeâs recommendation will be formally presented again to the full Board of Commissioners during its meeting Monday night. A vote on the recommendation is possible. (JM/TD)
↧