At their Business Meeting on Wednesday, February 3, the Board of County Commissioner's will decide whether or not to refer a $44 million jail expansion bond to the May 18 Primary Election ballot.

The Business Meeting will take place at 10:00 a.m. in the Barnes/Sawyer meeting room on the first floor of the Deschutes Services Center building, 1300 NW Wall Street in Bend.

Since 1995, the average daily general population at the Deschutes County Jail has increased from 89 to 223 through December of 2009 (Deschutes County Adult Jail records).

If approved, the bond would cost the average Deschutes County homeowner $2.67 per month (according to figures provided by the Deschutes County Assessor's Office).

The proposed Jail expansion would:

1. Add approximately 250 beds for general population inmates.

2. Increase space for inmate programs such as alcohol and drug treatment.

3. Add approximately 50 beds for mental health and other special needs inmates.

Sheriff Larry Blanton has asked the Board of Commissioners to refer this bond measure in order to take advantage of current low construction costs, historically low municipal bond interest rates and continuing County population growth.

Also at the February 3rd meeting, the Board of Commissioners will consider the creation of a debt service fund that would be funded by proceeds from the sale of county property. The money in that debt service fund could be used in future years to offset bond payments that would otherwise be funded by property taxes.

For more information about the Deschutes County Jail Expansion Bond, please call the Sheriff’s Office at (541) 388-6659.