Articles & NewsJanuary 23, 2009 County has wait-and-see attitude on capital projects
Constructing a new Shasta County animal
shelter and renovating the county's old library building appear to
be rising to the top of Shasta County's "to-do" list for 2009,
Shasta County Administrator Larry Lees said.
But other capital projects - a new jail and juvenile hall - could simply remain on the drawing board this year. And for all projects, much depends on how state legislators' solve California's mounting budget deficit, Lees said Wednesday. "Are they going to hold back some money (to counties), or are they going to rob the property tax? We just don't know," he said. In the months to come, the county's Board of Supervisors will decide how to spend portions of the approximately $11 million socked away in its capital projects fund. Even with that money, the poor economy and county's tight budget has left Lees wanting to proceed with caution on both the animal shelter and former library building renovation, he said. He hopes a state budget plan is in place by Feb. 1, when California is expected to run out of money. For now, the situation leaves Shasta County's capital projects plans somewhat on hold. "It's really discouraging," Lees said. Reporter Kimberly Ross can be reached at 225-8339 or kross@redding.com. Jail: $1 million set aside
Shasta County is out of jail bed space, but didn't qualify last year for some of the $30 million in state grant money available for building new small-county jails, largely because it opted against housing a prison re-entry facility in the county. However, few counties did, so Shasta County could still have a chance at a grant, Public Works Director Pat Minturn said. If it did, the county still would need to come up with $6 million a year in new jail operational costs, he said, which are "really at the crux of the problem." Meanwhile, the state budget's disarray has prevented bonds from being sold to award money even to counties that were promised grants, Shasta County Administrator Larry Lees said. Juvenile hall: $1 million set aside
The county's existing building lacks program space, adequate security and its classrooms are separated from the main facility. A new 90-bed facility is needed by 2013, but would cost about $17.9 million to build. The county recently applied for some of the $30 million available to small counties for improving juvenile halls, but won't know for about six months if it will get a share, Public Works Director Pat Minturn said. Even with a state grant, the county would need to provide a match of about $4.5 million. So far, it has identified $2.9 million and is requesting a waiver on the remainder, which is permitted in the grant application. Roofing: $1 million set aside, about $600,000 spentThe existing jail needs a new roof and wall repairs, estimated to cost $500,000, Public Works engineer Neil McAuliffe said. Two recently completed roofing jobs in the county's Breslauer complex (over the site's Cascade and part of its mental health buildings) cost about $600,000 instead of the $1 million budgeted, Public Works Director Pat Minturn said. The leftover money will be used for the jail repairs.
|
|
|
