Dramatic county prison budget increase draws fire from local political leaders
On May 17 the Merc reported that the proposed budget for the controversial new county prison had risen more than 70%, from $390m to $689m. County supervisor candidate Johnny Khamis and mayoral candidates Dev Davis and Matt Mahan express concern.
Johnny Khamis: There are two troubling trends revealing themselves in the most recent eye-popping budget overages for the county prison. First, we're witnessing a case study in fiscal mismanagement: the ongoing delays and prevarications about this project have mostly served to increase costs--and they're going to go up even more the longer we debate it. Secondly, local decarceration advocates appear to be gaming the system, insisting on more studies and more delays, in an effort to derail this project by inflating its cost. Let me be clear: the new prison has clear popular and supervisorial support. It is unconscionable to me how the alliance of elected officials who oppose the project and decarceration advocates are working together to raise the price of the prison in an effort to cancel the project. This disregard for public safety and taxpayer monies is unethical and counterproductive.
Dev Davis: When I saw this story, my first thought was: This is why we need Johnny Khamis on the Board of Supervisors so badly. I understand cost increases due to inflation, but over 70 percent? That is not what our city Public Works Dept is reporting for our capital projects. I hope one of the Supervisors calls for an independent audit of both the original and revised estimates. Something certainly doesn't seem right.
Matt Mahan: The County Board didn’t create COVID, supply chain issues, or inflation, but they absolutely could and should have anticipated the risk of punting on this decision over the years. Anyone involved in building knows that locking in costs early is critical to success. The truth is that we need both a new jail and a secure mental health facility, and the longer the County waits to move either forward the higher the cost of inaction will be. Enough handwringing and virtue signaling. It’s past time for decisive action rooted in a coherent public safety strategy.
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