Lack of funding delays new Columbia County Jail

Lack of funding delays new Columbia County Jail

Amendment 1 and property tax reform budget crunches cost Columbia County an estimated $2.2 million in revenue and their plans for a new county jail.

The property tax reform enacted by the legislature required Columbia County to roll back its millage rate by three percent in this fiscal year limiting the county’s revenue, coupled with the tax reform eliminated money for the new detention facility.

"Funding that we get from ad valorem taxes dropped about $4 million over two years," said District 2 Commissioner Dewey Weaver. "Of course, that’s just about equivalent of what it would take to build and operate the new jail."

The county had been designating $5 million of a state half-cent sales tax for jail costs. The money is now being used to make up the difference in the county’s tax shortfalls.

A new jail has been planned for several years. The current jail was built in 1984 to comply with a court-order to close the existing jail at the time. It was designed to hold 250 people maximum but authorities say now it’s running 325 to 350 daily.

Columbia County Sheriff Bill Gootee and county officials are looking into other methods to house and monitor non-violent offenders.