Commissioners Pledge Future Revenue to Pay Off Jail Debt

TYLER � Smith County Commissioners Tuesday signed a resolution pledging future revenue resulting from jail improvements to the early retirement of jail debt. Last month the Commissioners Court unanimously voted to place a $35 million bond proposal on the May ballot which would alleviate jail overcrowding issues in Smith County. The proposed bond would cost taxpayers one cent per $100 of assessed property value for 15 years, an average household cost of $13 per year. The resolution pledges that any surplus revenue above actual costs incurred from housing inmates from outside counties will be applied toward paying off the jail debt faster than originally planned.

Officials say the 2011 plan to alleviate jail overcrowding features the addition of 384 beds to the current downtown site, addresses public and employee safety issues, and includes an infirmary to cut inmate hospital expenses by an estimated $600,000 to $800,000 per year. According to press materials, Smith County currently spends $2.3 million annually on out-of-county inmate transport and housing.