A new parish prison received the highest priority on a list of public safety projects that could be financed by a proposed bond program in East Baton Rouge Parish.
The proposed 3,000-bed prison topped the short list of projects adopted last week by the parish’s Crime Fighting-Prevention Committee.
The panel said it intends to ask voters in April 2012 for a tax increase to finance the final list of projects. The program is expected to total between $300 and $350 million.
Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said a facility of at least that size is necessary to meet the parish’s needs. The new prison must include treatment facilities for drug and mental health issues, he said.
“Less than that will not suffice for right now or for the future,” Gautreaux said.
The committee of parish law enforcement directors and elected officials was established in August after the Metropolitan Council rejected Mayor-President Melvin “Kip” Holden’s request to put a $748 million capital improvements bond proposal on the November ballot.
Holden’s plan included $298 million for public safety projects, most of which are on the committee’s list.
East Baton Rouge Parish’s $1.16 billion of outstanding debt is rated Aa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, AA by Standard & Poor’s, and AA-plus by Fitch Ratings.
