What?s full cost of a new jail?
Guest opinion by Mary Ann Mix
By Mary Ann Mix
Blaine County commissioner
Does Blaine County need a new jail? Yes.
So why does the public, or the Commissioners for that matter, not know what the cost actually will be, how much the financing will cost, how much will the project cost to construct and why construct the entire facility to the high standard for jails? Good question, and one that has not, been answered.
However, the DLR Report from 2003, Section 2, indicates the Total Project Costs to Be Financed is $13,686,200. The Estimated Debt Schedule for a Lease amortized over 15 years at 4.09% would include an average annual payment of $1,219,434, with a total interest cost of $4,605,314. For a 30-year amortization at 5.00% interest rate, the annual payment would drop to $874,832 but the total interest paid would be $12,558,754.
So why is Blaine County stating the facility would only cost $8 million? On September 7, 2004, at the Commissioner's meeting, Chairman Dennis Wright stated, ?he spoke to Beniton Construction and they believe the construction of the jail will be a lot less money as proposed by the DLR group.? This assumption by Beniton Construction is the basis for the $8 million figure. Further, a document produced by Sheriff Walt Femling and Commissioner Sarah Michael titled ?New Jail Loan Amortization Schedule, September 2004? indicates a principal ranging from $5 million to $8 million with the total interest paid from $1,146,252.40 to $4,407,493.60.
What entity would own the facility? As proposed in the DLR Report, section 2, the County would enter into a lease purchase agreement with a third party Trustee. The Trustee would sell Certificates of Participation (COPs) in the lease payments it will receive from the County. This process will require a Judicial Confirmation?but the public will have no say in the final decision.
Will taxes be raised to pay for this facility? On September 7, 2004, at the Commissioner's meeting, Sarah Michael said, ?she would like to save monies to fund the jail as opposed to raising taxes.? Marsha Riemann, County Clerk, stated that she ?didn't see a revenue for funding past five years.?
Are there other building options available to provide for Consolidated Dispatch other than at a new jail? Yes, two other buildings have been offered for use for Consolidated Dispatch. One is at the Community Campus; the other is the existing ?White? building located across from the Sheriff's office on the corner of First Avenue and Walnut in Hailey.
These questions are only a few posed by the public records; I urge all interested voters to review the public records that are available at the Clerk's office in the County Courthouse prior to casting your ballot on November 2.
