A task force that has been studying the future of the Pueblo County, Colo., jail has determined that the best option is to build a new facility -- a project that would need assistance from the public.
Pueblo County Commissioner Garrison Ortiz, who leads the jail task force, said Monday that he is exploring the possibility of asking voters this fall to approve a bond issue to pay for a new jail.
"There is no way that the county can build a new jail without voter assistance," said Ortiz.
"In my comprehensive report, I have asked (County Budget and Finance Director) Aimee Tihonovich to model out what we would have to do to take on the debt service of bonding a facility of $100 million- plus," he said.
Ortiz formed the jail task force to evaluate and recommend solutions to the problems the facility is facing. It was something he started formulating shortly after he was sworn in Jan. 10.
On Monday, the Pueblo County commissioners asked staff members to negotiate details of a contract with Hellmuth Obata & Kassabuam, a professional consulting service, to determine the cost and desirability of possible sites for a new jail. The firm also will study how to re-purpose the existing facility into a detox and treatment center.
Ortiz said the task force has been evaluating all short- and long-term options for the jail and has determined that there needs to be a study to thoroughly evaluate the long-term option of what a new jail would cost and look like.
"We don't have that estimate," Ortiz said.
Ortiz said the consulting firm is a world leader in corrections institutions studies. He said the $196,297 study will be paid for out of the county's marijuana sales tax. Pueblo County imposes a 3.5 percent tax on recreational marijuana sales. One of the projects derived from the sales tax program includes a $750,000 project that would address critical system needs at the county jail including aging plumbing and other issues.
"Instead of pouring money into a facility that is going to continue to need $1 million for the next couple of years each year in maintenance costs, my thinking was that we would use some of that money this year to further the efforts of building a new facility. I feel that is going about it in the right way rather than continuing to pour money into a little bit of a money pit."
Jeff Teschner, chief of the Detention Bureau, said the sheriff's office is onboard with the proposed study by the consulting firm.
Ortiz said the task force estimated that it would cost $40 million to $45 million to expand the current facility.
"That estimate was for buying out the remaining block where the current jail is and expanding capacity," Ortiz said.
"However, it still would not get us to the proper capacity, even with the expansion."
"I don't see the point of investing $40 million to $45 million locally when we are still going to have the same problem with overcrowding in probably another 10 years."
The current jail is designed to house 509 inmates, but houses an average of 770-plus inmates. The jail has more than 800 inmates on most weekends.
Ortiz said the overcrowding and safety issues are of most concern. He said an expansion would get the current facility only 200-250 more beds.
The task force also ruled out using space at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo as a satellite jail for capacity reasons as well. That facility, Ortiz said, would only give the county about 140 more beds.
"That would cost $4 million to $4.5 million to bring up to standard and $2.2 million to operate annually. That's a little over $6.5 (million) to operate something that at the end of the day still isn't our building and still doesn't even get us to proper capacity," Ortiz said.
There are about 30 people on the task force, which includes representatives from county and city entities, members of the sheriff's office, local business and company owners and representatives from local hospitals. It was formed last month.
A state statute says the county commissioners are in charge of examining jails to see if they are sufficient and to correct all regularities.
In 2015, Pueblo County voters were asked whether they were willing to pay a 1 percent sales tax for 10 years to fund a new jail, improve sheriff's deputy salaries and replace equipment. That initiative failed with nearly 57 percent of the electorate saying no. Since then, county and sheriff's officials have been scrambling to tackle issues facing the nearly 44-year-old facility.
After the task force's July 31 session, Ortiz said he will provide a report in which the task force will render a short- and long-term solution for each need.
