Residents discuss costs, safety and trust

ELYRIA — Lorain County residents and officials found substantial common ground Tuesday over the need to improve the county’s adult jail and juvenile detention home, even as speakers raised questions about cost, oversight and another tax increase.

The Lorain County commissioners held second public hearings on two possible quarter-percent sales taxes that would last 15 years. Both would help finance work involving the Lorain County Jail and Lorain County Detention Home, but the permitted uses of the money would differ.

One option would provide broader funding for criminal justice and administrative services, including constructing, equipping or repairing the facilities and providing additional money to operate and maintain them.

The second option would be more narrowly focused on constructing, equipping or repairing the jail and detention home, along with operating or maintaining the detention facilities.

The hearing developed into a lengthy but largely respectful conversation, with commissioners answering questions about the condition of the facilities, the estimated construction cost, previous county spending and how the tax revenue would be protected.

Several residents who remained uncertain about the tax said they nevertheless recognized the need for new facilities. Their concerns centered on household expenses, recent property tax increases and whether the county had clearly explained how existing money had been spent.

Judge Lisa Swenski, a Lorain County domestic relations judge, spoke in support of allowing voters to decide the issue. She said the detention home, built in 1959, has heating, cooling, mold and security problems and described it as being held together with “popsicle sticks and bubble gum.”

Elizabeth Bozicevich, who works in Judge Chris Cook’s chambers, delivered a statement on Cook’s behalf supporting construction of a new jail. The statement said the current jail has a capacity of 432 inmates, while the proposed facility would hold 540 and offer improved security, working conditions and mental health services.

Commissioners said the quarter-percent tax would currently generate approximately $14 million annually. The latest estimated cost of the proposed adult jail is about $145 million, although officials cautioned that construction inflation could continue to increase that figure.

The county would issue bonds to begin construction and use sales tax proceeds to repay the debt during the tax’s 15-year life. Commissioners said the new revenue would be placed in a dedicated account rather than the county’s general fund.

No tax was approved Tuesday. Commissioner Dave Moore, Marty Gallagher and Jeff Riddell have said they do not intend to impose the increase themselves and would instead allow county voters to decide whether it should take effect.

The commissioners agreed to place both proposed resolutions on their July 28th agenda, allowing them to publicly discuss and vote on which option, if either, should advance to the ballot.

Swenski said putting an issue before voters would begin another important phase of the process.

“The real work starts,” she said.