Vanderburgh County officials now have better data about the financial feasibility of a 600-bed addition to the county jail after a meeting this morning.
Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave presented a draft to county officials and consultants. She said it’s a mixed bag.
“Good news is we have nearly enough money," she said at the meeting. "Bad news is we don’t have enough money.”
The document shows the annual costs of the jail expansion, based on a 25-year bond. It puts the tax fund it draws from in the red for a few years.
Musgrave said a new draft is on the way. That one’s a 30-year plan, which she said should keep that tax fund in the black.
Sherriff Dave Wedding has also found a way to keep costs down. He wants the jail to house some federal prisoners, which the federal government would pay for.
But nothing’s finalized yet.
The group will meet again in mid-August when they have data for the 30-year plan. County council will have voted by then on whether to approve a $1 million appropriation for jail design.
