In a cart-before-the-horse move, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to apply for $100 million in state funding to pay for a jail construction plan that has yet to be approved, according to published reports.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has asked the supervisors to approve a plan to issue $1.4 billion of bonds to pay for replacing the Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles and part of the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic.
Balking at the price, the supervisors asked the California Legislative Analysts Office to come up with less expensive alternatives.
Though they have yet to approve the construction plan, they did agree to apply for the state funding. The county could withdraw its application later.
Several dozen protesters at the meeting urged the supervisors not to approve any funding for jails, saying the money could be better used elsewhere, according to reports.
