San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill is working with his law
enforcement peers across the state to see that a nearly $7 billion
public safety bond
– which could fund a local jail expansion – makes it onto
November’s ballot.
Hollister – San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill is working with his law enforcement peers across the state to see that a nearly $7 billion public safety bond – which could fund a local jail expansion – makes it onto November’s ballot.
The $6.8 billion Public Safety Bond Act was introduced by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last month as part of a $222 billion plan to upgrade the state’s infrastructure. The bond act would be split – $2.61 billion coming in 2006 and $4.2 billion in 2010 – however it has not gained legislative approval. But with a $19 million plan to relocate and expand several of San Benito County’s criminal justice buildings, Hill wants to see the bond act on the ballot.
“The bottom line is California just keeps continuing to grow,” Hill said. “We’ve got to be ready.”
Last week Hill was among other California State Sheriff’s Association officers who met with state Senate President pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, to talk about how to make the bond act more palatable to California democrats. As it is written, the bond act includes funding to construct new state prisons, which may be a turn off for some, according to Hill.
“The state prison system isn’t very popular right now,” he said. “We’re trying to separate what needs to happen at the local level and what’s going on at the state level.”
Locally, need for expanded jail facilities is dire, Hill said. The San Benito County Jail, which was built to hold a maximum of 125 inmates, will need 50 more beds within the next four years, according to a county-commissioned study released last November. Hill said overcrowding in the jail is an ongoing problem, and each day his office has to work with the court to determine which inmates – convicted of misdemeanors or non-violent felonies – can be released early.
The study released in November calls for a major, and costly, overhaul of the county’s criminal justice facilities.
It recommends:
n A nearly 27,000 square-foot expansion of the county’s adult jail located on Flynn Road, at an estimated cost of $3.5 million.
n Construction of a new 30,000 square-foot sheriff’s office to be connected to the jail on Flynn Road, at an estimated cost of $6.1 million.
n A nearly 18,000 square-foot expansion of Juvenile Hall, located adjacent to the jail, at an estimated cost of $6.1 million.
n Construction of a new 7,000 square-foot probation department to be connected to Juvenile Hall, with an estimated cost of $3.5 million
County supervisors have said that they support the project, but the county does not have the $19.2 million to make it a reality. Supervisor Anthony Botelho said funding from the bond, should it make it onto the ballot and get passed, would be a “Godsend”.
“It sure provides us with the incentive to get our ducks in a row to move forward with the jail (planning),” he said. “We’re in a good position to take advantage of bond money if it becomes available.”
Hill said that he and other CSSA officers will meet with the governor on Wednesday to discuss the bond.
