Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Lee County Borrowing Jail Money

The Lee County Board of Supervisors has signed off on the county borrowing up to $650,000 to expand the jail to accommodate more female inmates.

That is about $200,000 more than what Midwest Construction Consultants has estimated the project to cost.

The extra money will be used to upgrade the sewer system at the jail and as a contingency fund for both projects.

There was already money in the budget for the sewer project.

A portion of that will now be used to repair a road in Pollmiller Park.

Lee County would pay about $58,000 in interest over 10 years if the maximum amount is borrowed for the expansion.

The annual impact on the property tax rate would be about six cents.

The final vote on the borrowing plan was unanimous, despite some previous opposition. 

No one spoke against it during a public hearing prior to the vote.

Jason Parrott is a former reporter at Tri States Public Radio.