Clay County Jail Project Moving Slowly, But Progressing

Clay County hopes to be winding down the process to obtain a USDA loan for the new jail facility.

Mayor Dale Reagan said the county commission will be meeting Monday to approve one of the loan requirements.

“One of the things that they required was to do a financial analysis on the county’s debt,” Reagan said. “Our CTAS reps have stepped up to the plate and helped us out on that, with no cost to the county. They’ll be coming to the county commission to give them an update on that analysis.”

Reagan said the next step will be coming up with a way to fund the $7.5 million project.

“Our budget for the old jail runs around the half a million dollars mark a year. The new facility is going to increase anywhere from $600,000 to $700,000,” Reagan said. “We’re probably looking $1.1 million operational cost in addition to the debt payment.”

Reagan said commissioners will consider all options to fund the project including potential tax increases.

“I know they have extended their concerns about property taxes and it not being one of the options they want to look at,” Reagan said. “Most of the commissioners has said they don’t want to look that way, but at the end of the day, they’ll have to take everything into consideration.”

The proposed site for the new jail sits along Highway 53 across from Buford Drive.

Regan said the county has applied for a low-interest USDA loan for up to $7 million. He said construction will likely begin sometime in 2020.