Just How Wasteful is the new Hamilton County Jail Tax?
Just how wasteful is the new Hamilton County Jail tax? Consider this:
Under New Tax the County is estimating
Under New Tax the County is estimating
- Operating costs to be $48.75 per day.
- Capital costs of $190 million. Over 30 years, 365 days per year, 1816 new beds, that number goes up by $9.64.
- If you include the 10% project contingency they are budgeting for the cost goes up $10.55
- Grand Total of $59.30 per bed per day.
Also consider an alternative.
- Hamilton County currently pays Butler County $55.00 per bed per day.
- Campbell County is offering jail space at a price of $43.48 per bed per day!
- Boone County is offering jail space at $44.65.
So instead of building a brand new jail and raising the taxes, it would make a lot more economic sence to lease out jail space in a neighboring county (something we are already doing).
We Demand a Better Solution!
posted by CincinnatiLibertarian at 12:22 PM
3 Comments:
Back in May, Hamilton County officials told us there was a critical shortage of beds. They said criminals were going to be released to roam the streets unless we built a new jail now. It was such a crisis, and required such quick action, that there wasn't even time for a vote.
Two things have happened since then. First, the NAACP, the Cincinnati Libertarians and others led a referendum drive, and we now have the chance to vote on the proposal. Life went on, and no harm came from that.
Second, the same county officials were given an opportunity to free-up 35 beds by ending their contract to house federal inmates. They declined that option, saying it couldn't be cost justified, and they really didn't need the space anyway. Their claims of overcrowding were refuted by their own actions. Apparently the shortage was as fictional as the urgency.
There is very little difference between your figures above and the numbers the county is using internally to justify their actions. Both show that others can house our inmates cheaper than we can do it ourselves. If Portune, Pepper & Leis are serious about getting the job done at the best value to the taxpayers, then they ought to be all over this option.
So why aren't they?
Part 3 of this saga is where they claim Kentucky jails can't be used for statutory reasons. Not precisely true, but that's OK. State Representative Tom Brinkman is lining things up in Columbus to explicitly give them the authority to transport inmates across state lines for this purpose. Once that's done, we will have the ability to buy as many jail beds as we want for less than we are paying right now.
The optimist in me believes that Portune, Pepper and Leis will cheer the savings, lock in a good rate with a long term contract, and pat each other on the back for finding a way not to need this big chunk of tax money.
The pessimist in me says they will drum up some other excuse and charge forward with their "comprehensive plan" because the cost reluctance is more fictional than the shortage and the urgency; and that this was always about getting Leis his monument, and Portune & Pepper their tax.
The ball's in their court. But I really hope they make an optimist out of me.
I can go on and on. I have more information to post on future blogs. Either way, the more you look at this, the more you realize that this is a gigantic waste of money and we are being lied to.
And yes, our sheriff and county commissioners are being very unethical about this.
Interesting letter in the 9/21 Enquirer.
"More importantly is the need to compare apples-to-apples costs. In 2006, the average cost of housing an inmate in the county's four aging facilities was $57.37 per day. This represents all costs, including medical treatment programs (i.e. substance abuse). The cost per day without medical or treatment costs is $47.13.
The current agreement with Butler County does not include medical or treatment programs and costs $55 per day per inmate. Factoring in medical, treatment and transportation costs, the Butler County rate exceeds our costs."
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070921/EDIT0202/709210351/1022/LETT
Are these costs factored into your calculations ?
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