Oklahoma County Jail Election Postponed

Oklahoma County, Okla. commissioners decided last week to postpone a proposed bond election for a new jail complex to avoid conflicts with scheduled municipal and school board elections.

“We would perhaps hurt their turnout or maybe they would hurt our turnout,” said Commissioner Ray Vaughn.

Officials had discussed an election in March for a 10-year, 0.5% county sales tax to support up to $350 million of general obligation bonds.

The county, which includes Oklahoma City, wants to replace its current 13-story jail facility with a complex that includes a one-story facility with more capacity and a separate juvenile detention center. The U.S. Justice Department cited the county jail for operational and management deficiencies in 2007. It opened in 1991.

Vaughn said most of the deficiencies cited by the federal jail inspectors have been resolved, but additional major structural changes would be required to take care of the remainder. Oklahoma County must certify by November that the jail problems have been fixed or that a plan to fix them is in place.

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