Jail still costs $225 million

A new, 1,800-bed Hamilton County jail won’t cost any more than originally proposed.

That was the message Commissioners Phil Heimlich (right) and Pat DeWine were given today by the consulting company Hamilton County hired.

Heimlich and DeWine were given a separate presentation by the consultant – resulting in the presentation not being subject to Ohio’s public meetings laws – who told them the jail would cost about $225 million.

That was the price given in January by another county-hired consultant.

But because that original estimate was at least 10 months old, commissioners wanted an update on the cost.

The consultants who gave today’s presentation looked at the current price of building material, construction cost, borrowing, inflation and other considerations needed to erect and finance a new jail compared to the prices on which the January consultant’s report was based.

That number is important because Heimlich has proposed a 20-year quarter-cent sales tax increase in Hamilton County to fund a $225 million jail.

DeWine has said he would support such an increase, but not for 20 years.

The two commissioners are expected to arrive at some compromise on the length of a sales tax increase before Thursday – the deadline for commissioners to place ballot issues before voters in the Nov. 7 election.

Commissioner Todd Portune, (at left in photo) a Democrat, knew nothing about today’s presentations by the consultants, his aide said.