Action 2.
Special Board of Supervisors Meeting - 5:30 pm
Board of Supervisors
- Meeting Date:
- 07/10/2025
- Title:
- Approval of Site Selection for New County Jail Facility
- Submitted By:
- Lara Loewenheim, Board of Supervisors
- Department:
- Board of Supervisors
Presentation:
No A/V Presentation
Recommendation:
Document Signatures:
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Sharon Gilman
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
County Administrator
Mandated Function?:
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
Information
Agenda Item Text:
Approve the selection of the existing jail site located at 203 N Judd Dr, Bisbee, AZ 85603, as the official location for construction of the new Cochise County Jail facility.
Background:
Cochise County is advancing plans to construct a new jail facility to replace the current facility, which is aging, operationally inadequate, and no longer compliant with modern detention and public safety standards. After evaluating several potential locations, it has been recommended the existing jail site as the preferred location for the new facility due to its access to infrastructure, proximity to courts, and overall cost efficiency.
This recommendation comes amid a broader initiative to secure long-term funding for the construction and financing of new jail facilities through voter authorization of a dedicated jail district sales tax.
On May 6, 2025, the Board of Directors of the Cochise County Jail District adopted Resolution JD25-01, formally calling for a November 4, 2025 election to submit to voters the question of approving an excise tax for jail construction and finance. The resolution was adopted in fulfillment of a binding legal settlement in the case Daniel LaChance, et al. v. County of Cochise, et al., which required the County to conduct an election on the jail district excise tax by November 2025.
Resolution JD25-01 directs that, if approved by voters, the excise tax will be used exclusively for acquiring, constructing, and financing county jail facilities, and will automatically terminate once sufficient funds have been collected to complete the project and retire any associated debt. The resolution also establishes the boundaries of the jail district as coterminous with all of Cochise County, including incorporated and unincorporated areas.
This recommendation comes amid a broader initiative to secure long-term funding for the construction and financing of new jail facilities through voter authorization of a dedicated jail district sales tax.
On May 6, 2025, the Board of Directors of the Cochise County Jail District adopted Resolution JD25-01, formally calling for a November 4, 2025 election to submit to voters the question of approving an excise tax for jail construction and finance. The resolution was adopted in fulfillment of a binding legal settlement in the case Daniel LaChance, et al. v. County of Cochise, et al., which required the County to conduct an election on the jail district excise tax by November 2025.
Resolution JD25-01 directs that, if approved by voters, the excise tax will be used exclusively for acquiring, constructing, and financing county jail facilities, and will automatically terminate once sufficient funds have been collected to complete the project and retire any associated debt. The resolution also establishes the boundaries of the jail district as coterminous with all of Cochise County, including incorporated and unincorporated areas.
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
Include the site selection in the Publicity Pamphlet.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
Staff will continue to explore potentional jail sites and the site selection will not be included in the Publicity Pamphlet.
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
n/a
Fiscal Impact
Attachments
No file(s) attached.