County Jail Referendum Information and Concerns
Union County
Summary
Architects presented four structural and architectural options for replacing or renovating the county jail, ranging from adaptive reuse to all-new construction, with estimated project costs between $170.8 million and $211.5 million, leading up to a November 2026 bond referendum.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 5
- Last 30 days
- 0
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Sep 21, 2026.
Impact analysis
Estimated project financing ranges from $170.8 million to $211.5 million, with an estimated tax rate impact between 2.73 and 3.38 cents.
County law enforcement personnel and detainees requiring modern, code-compliant detention facilities.
Union County property taxpayers facing increased debt service tax rates.
Mentions & discussions (5)
Board of Commissioners — September 21, 2026
A resident raised community questions and concerns regarding the upcoming November jail bond referendum, including construction costs, bed capacity, and long-term tax impacts.
Board of Commissioners — July 20, 2026
The county is moving forward with a general obligation bond referendum for November to fund a much-needed new jail. Officials noted that using GO bonds provides the lowest available interest rate and avoids costly potential lawsuits over jail conditions.
Board of Commissioners — April 20, 2026
The county is moving forward with plans to build a new jail facility to address severe maintenance, space, and safety issues in the existing 33-year-old building. Commissioners selected Option 3, which includes a new 500-bed jail with a 600-bed core and the reuse of the sheriff's administration building, funded through general obligation bonds.
Board Of Commissioners (Work) — March 12, 2026
Architects presented four structural and architectural options for replacing or renovating the county jail, ranging from adaptive reuse to all-new construction, with estimated project costs between $170.8 million and $211.5 million, leading up to a November 2026 bond referendum.
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