Shelby County Commission members were presented with a $15.5 million list of repairs to the aging Shelby County Jail during the Wednesday, September 4, Budget and Finance Committee meeting.
The amendment seeks to draw from ARPA funding allotted for the Mental Health, Safety & Justice Center. The facility is estimated to cost $25 million and take two years to build.
“There’s a priority now to take care of emergency issues at 201 Poplar. There’s a priority versus a building that can be built at a later time, or out of other funding sources,” said Shelby County Sheriff’s Office CAO Alicia Lindsey.
The item was moved down without a recommendation. A vote on the item is expected during the upcoming September 9 full commission meeting. In the meantime, alternative funding sources are being sought.
However, according to the administration, the money could already be in the sheriff’s department coffers.
“I have before me the sheriff’s department budget over the past five years,” said Michael Thompson, director of budget and planning. “The sheriff continues to have a historical underspend of their budget to the tune of anywhere from $10 million to $20 million per year.”
Going back to 2022, Thompson said he only noticed $180 million of the SCSO’s $200 million annual budget has been spent.
The state-required repairs or replacements include 636 new jail doors, a walk-in freezer, HVAC systems and lighting fixture repairs. Jail staff have also been hindered by faulty access control systems that were damaged during a March power surge.
“The SCSO did not budget for the repairs in the 2025 budget. We are currently using funds designated for other purposes to initially fund the outlay of the expenditures,” said Lindsey.
If not refunded, operations could be “negatively” impacted. For example, a shortfall could limit the use of the SCSO reserves at sporting events. New patrol vehicles could also wind up on the chopping block.
Moreover, the state of dilapidation appears to be growing at an exponential pace. On July 12 – seven weeks ago – the bill for repairs was $1.5 million. Currently, the SCSO has spent over $5 million on fix-ups.
Commissioners passed a resolution to pay for new cell door locks at the facility last year.
During the discussion, Lindsay said the administration was informed of the further deteriorating conditions at the 45-year old jail during a July emergency meeting.
“I believe July 23, Sheriff Bonner spoke with Chief (Harold) Collins, who informed him about the issues we’re having at the jail,” said Lindsey. “I followed up with an email on July 24, informing him of our list of identified repairs through that date. And to inform him there will be additional items added to this list. It’s not all-inclusive.”
The assertion was refuted, but Collins did recollect the earlier request.
“This administration has not been put on notice about this emergency request from the sheriff. In fact, this is the first time we have actually seen a “non-inclusive list” of repairs,” said Collins. “CAO Linsdey is correct, the sheriff called me on July 12 to ask me for an emergency provision to use a vendor to fix doors at a cost of $1.5 million.”
As the emergency requests for repairs accumulate, there are concerns that the jail could become a money pit that robs other priorities of funding – like the mental health facility.
In July, members rejected a $1.7 million contract design for the mental health center. It also would have drawn from ARPA funds.
“I just want to say, we need a new jail,” said Britney Thornton. “In the absence of a jail, it is creating a lot of complications that could be very costly for this county.”
She also noted that there weren’t enough uncommitted ARPA funds to cover the repairs.
Earlier in the year, commissioners approved $250,000 to study the costs of a new jail.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris has said a new facility could cost $1 billion and take 10 years to complete.
During budget negotiations, Harris proposed paying for six percent across-the-board raises for county employees by eliminating over 400 SCSO positions that have been vacant for over 18-months.
The proposal was dropped after Bonner threatened to take the commission to court if the budget passed.
A maintenance of effort required by state law forbids cutting salaries to law enforcement agencies, unless requested by the sheriff. The Shelby County jail is also required to be fully-staffed.
