An update on items impacting the
County budget:
Bids have been received for construction of a new Juvenile Hall. The
current facility was built in the Eisenhower era. The layout of the building poses safety
issues for staff and borderline substandard living conditions for offenders.
The County has received a construction grant from the Board of
Corrections (BOC) for $4,000,000 and has reserved a required match of its own funds and
“in-kind” services in the amount of $1,000,000. Unfortunately, with delays from
environmental concerns at the first (current) site and neighborhood protests at the second
site selected, the costs of steel and concrete block have skyrocketed. The lowest
construction bid, (plus architectural costs with site changes,) now places total project
costs at around $7,375,000. (This does not include additional office space planned for the
Probation Dept.)
The Board is now faced with a difficult decision:
(1) It can pursue a low interest infrastructure loan in the amount of
$2,000,000 and fund the remaining $900,000 needed from a reserve fund. (This would pretty
much deplete that particular reserve.)
(2) It can reject all bids, return the grant and try to remodel the
Juvenile Hall to State standards.
(3) It can reject all bids, return the grant, reduce operation of our
Juvenile Hall and contract out with other counties for beds to house most of our juvenile
offenders.
In the first option, the County would take on a 20-30 year debt with
low interest rates at 3.25%. The County receives Criminal Justice Construction funds from
the State on an annual basis and $100,000 of these could be used each year to repay the
debt. On the other hand, the County already has a large outstanding infrastructure loan to
pay for closure of the Black Butte landfill and transfer station. Also, with a new
juvenile facility, staffing requirements would likely increase, adding more expense.
However, there is some potential for renting out beds in the new facility to house
juvenile offenders from other counties.
In the second option, once the BOC grant is returned, it is unlikely
that the County would be awarded any future grants. Architectural and environmental costs
already expended would be lost. Liability risks will remain high and there is a chance
that the State may decertify the facility.
In the third option, most of Siskiyou County’s juvenile
offenders would be shipped to other facilities, such as Lassen or Trinity County. Costs
for offenders placed outside the county could run from $61-$110 a day. In addition to
logistical problems for family visits, staff would be required to transport juveniles back
and forth for court appearances. It is estimated that the average juvenile offender has
five court appearances. Because these are usually early in the morning, staff must travel
and stay the night to transport in time. This is estimated to cost an average of $300 per
day with mileage, meals and other expenses.
The decision is scheduled on our Tuesday, July 13th
agenda.
In another budget issue, Siskiyou County has requested that the State
Controller’s Office advance the County $3,000,000 to help cover homicide trial
expenses for the fiscal year 2004/2005. The total costs for trial proceedings on current
cases over the next two years could easily exceed $19 million. (This is based on a
potential cost of $3,000,000 per defendant.) Recently, the State required the County to
return $500,000 plus interest that had been left over from the Bowcutt trial kept in
special reserve fund.
I hope to see you at the Scott Valley Bluegrass Festival at the Etna City
Park, Saturday, July 17, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday the 18th from 9 a.m. –
6 p.m. A Lions Club breakfast is available for early birds starting at 7 a.m.
Also, please stop by the Scott Valley Family Resource Center (SVFRC)
(a.ka. Scott Valley FOCUS) up the block from Scott Valley Bank in Fort Jones. Check out
the things to do, classes to take and resources available to help. Contributions of time,
talent and money are always welcome. SCFRC has great programs for parents and children and
is looking for ideas to involve Junior High, High School and Senior members of Scott Valley.
The organizing group is also seeking to expand its Board membership into the community.
Call Karen Derry at 468-2450. |
