FAYETTEVILLE -- The Washington County Detention Center needs a multimillion dollar expansion in the next few years, especially as Springdale city officials consider -- once again -- closing the city-run jail.
The move by Springdale would mean a huge increase in costs to the county as the detention center saw an influx of inmates, Sheriff Tim Helder said. But, the timing of closing the city-run jail could be an opportunity for the county and cities to work together to better fund the county detention center, he said.
Adding jail beds
The Washington County Detention Center needs to add about 300 beds in the next few years. That may become more vital should Springdale close its city-run jail. The $20-million-plus detention center project may mean voters must decide on a sales tax increase to fund and run the facility.
Source: Staff report
"Expansion is on the horizon," Helder said. "We don't have it in the general fund to pay for this expansion."
A one-quarter sales tax meant to fund the jail does not cover current costs.
Talks about expanding the detention center by roughly 300 beds are preliminary, Helder told justices of the peace during the Jail, Law Enforcement and Courts Committee meeting Monday.
Helder and Springdale officials talked about three months ago about closing the city jail, Helder said. Closing the city-run jail has been under consideration for the past several years, spokesman Lt. Jeff Taylor said in a message Monday.
The city may need to decide whether to build a new jail or close the old one because of state standards, Helder said. Taylor did not have information about state city jail standards for Monday night. He also was not the committee meeting.
The county detention center expansion likely will cost about $20 million or more, Helder said. That may mean asking voters for a sales tax increase, he said. Getting a plan and possible voter approval could take about three years, Helder said.
Justice of the Peace Tom Lundstrum, a Republican representing northwestern Washington County, said the county should negotiate with the cities. That could include reallocating a share of a county tax that is shared with cities, he said.
Meanwhile, the inmate population will continue to grow, he said.
According to online statistics the Sheriff's Office posted online, the 710-bed detention center has had an average detainee population of 599 in the past 15 days. The lowest daily population was 582 on Friday, May 26, and the highest was Monday, May 29 with 611 detainees, the office reported.
A population of roughly 620-630 inmates is the maximum the detention center can hold because of separation regulations, Helder said. The growing inmate population also is made worse because fewer people are able to pay their bonds, so inmates are staying in jail longer.
The state recently has reduced the number of state prisoners held at the county detention center, but Helder said he was not sure that would last.
Some justices of the peace said they are frustrated.
The county already has a roughly $5 million gap between revenue and spending. Justices of the peace already have talked about raising the millage rate, making cuts or finding new revenue. On Monday, justices of the peace said they want help from cities and the state.
State funding to house inmates, for example, does not cover costs to the county, said Justice of the Peace Eva Madison, a Democrat representing northeastern Fayetteville.
"This county is facing a tax increase while the state is cutting taxes," Madison said. "The state is not paying its fair share."
NW News on 06/06/2017