Napa County might create a sort of New Jail Financing 101 for the taxpaying public, if it heeds the grand jury’s advice.
The county plans to build a $128 million, 304-bed jail with 28 additional medical/mental health beds along Highway 221 near Syar quarry. This jail would replace the downtown Napa jail built in 1976 and expanded in 1989.
Over the past few years, the county has proposed different versions of the project. Jail size and financing methods to be covered by taxpayers’ dollars have changed dramatically.
“The 2017-18 Napa County Grand Jury finds the accuracy and transparency of new jail construction is confusing or non-existent,” the new grand jury report said.
Napa County should on its website inform taxpayers of the progress and funding of the jail, the grand jury recommended. Also, it should hold public hearings throughout the county to explain the jail financing plan.
So how is the county coming up with $128 million for the new jail?
The county plans to use $23 million in state grants, $38 million in savings and $13 million from the sale of surplus land, including the former Health and Human Services Agency campus on Old Sonoma Road.
Another $20 million is to come from a loan. The county will make the $1.4 million annual loan repayments in initial years using $6.2 million received from a state lawsuit settlement with tobacco companies. In 2024, it will switch to its general fund as other loans are paid off.
Counting both principal and interest, the county under one loan scenario would pay back $26 million through 2037.
Finally, the county plans to use $34 million it expects to receive over three years in excess Educational Revenue Augmentation Funds (ERAF). This is property tax that goes to schools under certain circumstances, but that the county believes will come to its coffers instead.
The grand jury pointed out proposed state legislation could shift excess ERAF back to schools. In that case, a hole could open up in the county’s jail financing plan, the grand jury report said.
County staff told the Napa County Board of Supervisors on May 15 that an earlier jail financing plan called for a $50-million loan. Using excess ERAF for the jail allowed this number to drop to $20 million.
Staff also told supervisors about two proposed state laws that could shift excess ERAF money back to schools or to redevelopment. The county plans to monitor the situation.
The grand jury agreed with the county that a new jail is needed. Among other things, it said the downtown jail is overcrowded and less secure than newer jails with the latest security technology.
“Currently, there are areas where visual and video monitoring are not available, which increases the risk of harm to both correctional officers and inmates,” the grand jury report said.
On a November 2017 tour of the jail, grand jurors saw at least one cell with a boat beds – plastic, canoe-shaped trays designed for sleeping – on the floor because of overcrowding.
Exercise yards were empty of exercise equipment because of safety issues. Overhead netting prevented drones from dropping contraband. Exercise time for inmates is challenged by the need to segregate inmates by sex or gang affiliation, the grand jury report said.
The downtown jail has virtually no classrooms or facilities that can be used for rehabilitation, the report said.
Napa County plans to have a new jail ready for occupancy by September 2021.
The Board of Supervisors has 90 days to respond to the grand jury report.
June 30, 2018
Napa Valley Register
By Barry Eberling
No comments:
Post a Comment