Pros, Cons Square Off on Jail Plan

TYLER — Opponents and supporters of the Smith County jail plan set for a vote next month are stating their positions after the Tyler Tea Party, Inc., became the first group to announce opposition to the plan. In a news release, local Tea Party chair Tammy Blair cites several reasons including a perceived lack of transparency, timing, and issues regarding the arguments used to support the plan.

According to the news release, “On the issue of transparency, this plan fails on all fronts. This is the fifth jail proposal developed by the Smith County Commissioners Court. The court has released the least amount of supporting documentation for this plan. On the County�s website, the Commissioners have released a power point presentation that is long on promise but short on details.”

The release continues, “On the issue of timing, the most recent jail plan could not come at a worse time. The economy right now is terrible. The Tyler Independent School District just had a school bond election fail and (is) talking about laying off employees. Tyler Junior College is discussing how to fund its expected short fall. Now the County is asking the voters to support a new jail even though the voters just voted against more schools.”

The release additionally states, “The arguments being used to support the bond package are contradictory and rely heavily on assumptions that require the Commissioners Court to realize savings which they have never been able to realize in the past. The primary argument made by the Commissioners to support the bond proposal is that the County has already spent 16 million dollars in housing inmates in other counties. The Commissioners seem to be hinting that these funds could have been spent on constructing a new jail. However, this is not true. By voting no in the last 4 or 5 jail bond elections, the County has actually SAVED money by voting no. Additionally, by voting no to this bond election the County will save money.”

The news release also says, “Further, the County has acknowledged spending $41.00 a day in housing inmates in other counties is less than would be spent in Smith County if a bond election passed and a new jail built. Therefore, Smith County will actually be spending more money to house inmates here than other counties and on top of that the County would have to pay for the cost of construction. This is not a conservative approach in tough economic times.”

Also stated in the release: “Further, some of the arguments currently made do not ring true. When this plan was first announced, the Commissioners Court stated that the plan would not address all of the County�s needs and some inmates might still have to be shipped. However, more recently, the County has announced that it will be able to make substantial income from renting beds to other counties. Both of these statements cannot be true. Further, the history in Smith County is that every jail built was full the day it opened. Four years ago, the County said that it had to have a minimum of 1200 new beds. Two years ago, the County said that it had to have a minimum of around 600 new beds. Now the County says it needs around 300 new beds and can make substantial money renting them out to other counties. These inconsistencies also weigh against supporting the jail plan.”

On this week’s KTBB “Staff Meeting,” County Commissioner Jeff Warr says he took note of failed bond issues in the past — and made sure this time to find out what the community would support. He tells us, “I decided I would go out and start meeting with different civic groups, different organizations, different city councils and leaders in the community and get their input.” He adds that the proposal is cost-effective and addresses safety, his own major concern. The cost is $35 million, and 384 beds would be added.

In a statement issued Thursday morning, Warr added, “It is my hope that Smith County voters will make a decision on this proposal based on factual information. I have personally discussed the development of this plan over the past year during weekly open meetings of the Smith County Commissioners Court. I have personally spoken to at least 20 groups around the county with even more scheduled over the next few weeks. In every meeting citizens have been given the opportunity to make public comment and ask questions about the plan. Their comments and input have been important to ensure that concerns are heard and addressed.

“This plan addresses much-needed safety and security improvements to the current jail facility and includes additional beds to handle the growth Smith County has seen over the past two decades. This proposal means that Smith County can quit renting jail space in other counties at a cumulative cost of $17.5 million dollars of our taxpayers� money. This is money that is continuing to leave Smith County to fund the operations of other counties throughout east Texas. This plan should stop that loss and bring those taxpayer dollars home.”

You can go to http://www.smith-county.com for more information from the county or to submit questions. You can also go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to access the “Staff Meeting” show online.