Story Created:
Oct 21, 2009 at 9:45 PM EST
Story Updated:
Oct 21, 2009 at 10:51 PM EST
HERKIMER, N.Y. (WKTV) - For 10 years Herkimer County lawmakers have discussed building a new jail. Now they could possibly be the closest they have ever been to making it a reality. Lawmakers were made aware, last week, of how much a new jail would cost if built today.
For the building model and size lawmakers want, the price tag to build on the former Pharmhouse Plaza property is between $31 million and $34 million.
Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, Leonard Hendrix, says he is comfortable with those figures since the county has been spending a lot of money to board out the over-crowded prison population to other counties. "The legislature has to make up it's mind whether they want to continue to pay 1.4 million, 1.5 million annually in housing and transportation, or build and do it in house," Hendrix said. "It is whether you want to rent or own your own home."
However some lawmakers say its not that easy. Like Joseph Chilelli who has always opposed building a jail until he saw a financial plan. Chilelli says the $31 million to $34 million figure to build the jail is not enough. He says it's going to cost so much more after it's built, to staff and maintain it. He says Herkimer County can not afford to do that. "I don't think so, not right now," Chilelli said. "We're looking at a shortfall without the jail as it is. Were looking in 2011, when the stimulus money goes away, were looking at a big hole in the budget. Were looking at possible cuts or increases in taxes. I don't see how we can even contemplate building a jail at this time."
Lawmakers are currently awaiting the results of an impact study on the Route 28 Pharmhouse Plaza site. Hendrix says once that is in and everything checks out, the legislature could be voting on the jail by February.
Most Popular