Blalock is a member of the caucus. “As a citizen, a taxpayer, a representative and a candidate, I feel we need to approach this methodically and get savings at every chance, both now and in the future, and not to commit to an approach that would continually cost us for a long time down the road. A 500-bed jail could cost upwards of $200 million, and neither I, nor many others, see the savings,” she said.
Her opponent, Gregg Pulver (R), of Pine Plains, could not be reached for comment.
Molinaro dismissed the DDWC report as “a political position paper” and took issue with it being called an independent analysis.
He also said that during the next study period he looks forward to hearing opinions about how to solve the jail problem.
“When someone presents an honest and earnest opinion…they can come right through the door and participate and they will in the next phase,” he said.
Joel Tyner (D), who represents Rhinebeck and Clinton as the 11th District County Legislator and is running for re-election, has been vocal in his opposition: He, too, voted against the bond for the study.
He told The Observer that he questions the cost of an expansion and also the effectiveness. He would like to see more investment in alternatives to incarceration (ATI) programs instead of money spent on a new jail.
Deborah Mimoso (R), of Rhinebeck, who is running for Tyner’s seat, said, “The amount of money…we’re spending on [housing out] has to stop. We have to find a way to put our residents’ precious tax payer money to good use…We also must do something to address the needs of our residents with any number of alternatives to jail, the half-way houses, the transitional programs, that absolutely is money well spent.” She added that she would not make a decision on whether a new jail was appropriate until the next study had concluded.
Jim Coughlan, the county’s comptroller, who is running for reelection unopposed, told The Observer his main concern is the long-term cost of a possible new jail.
“My concern is the debt service associated with the jail, compounded by our annual debt service for projects around the county (which stands at $18 million), would raise our overall annual debt service to almost $30 million. That is only sustainable by cutting services around the county, cutting back on other capital projects (reducing road or bridge repairs), or by raising taxes,” he said. “I am fundamentally opposed to raising taxes, so I do not know what the overall plan is for the county. I understand currently we are purely in the review-and-discussion stage regarding a possible jail project.”
Update: Our earlier online version of this story stated that a 500 bed jail could cost as much as $2 million, as quoted by Debra Blalock. In fact, the quote should have read $200 million.
Facebook Comments