TOLEDO, Ohio — After recently learning that the cost of a new jail for Lucas County was over budget, commissioners and Lucas County Sheriff Navarre are now looking at ways to raise needed funds and cut costs.
The jail is still on track, though, despite it costing almost $100 million more than estimated in November, according to Lucas County Commissioner Lisa Sobecki.
"Where the board of county commissioners are right now is that value engineering piece of it," Sobecki said. "We haven't said that we're not going build the jail as a board of county commissioners. We're still on this track."
She said taxpayers are one of the main reasons why the cost is front of mind.
"We're watching the interest rates because we're going to have to go out to bond. This is really this is no different than someone building a home," Sobecki said.
Tom Waniewski, a Lucas County commissioner candidate, says the county needs a new jail, but has a gripe with the price tag.
"The problems in my opinion stem from not having enough foresight, not having enough management skills to find a site and start building," he said.
"You have to keep in mind this is a jail, it's not a Taj Mahal. It's not a Waldorf Astoria," Waniewski added. "I hope that it's basic with secure needs for the prisoners and the guards and that there's a component that might handle folks who are suffering from mental illness."
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Sobecki says the project has received additional funding support from state officials and that the county plans to apply for grants, too.
"We have a lot of partners that are gathered around building this jail. We have a lot of partners that are investing around this jail," she said. "So we are just going to continue to go through this process and continue to be transparent to the public."
Sobecki said the new jail will include a mental health component and other amenities that both the commissioners and Sheriff Navarre believe are important for visitors.