SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, Mich. — A Mid-Michigan sheriff is giving people free tours of his jail so they can see why he's asking for a new one.
In May, voters in Shiawassee County will decide whether they'll foot the $37 million bill to build a new facility.
Shiawassee County Sheriff Brian Begole says his 56-year-old jail is outdated and beyond repair.
In fact, he says, it's received countless violations with the state Department of Corrections. Among them, asbestos, bad infrastructure and cramped quarters.
Begole says the jail also uses 50 percent more energy than most others.
"What we want the people to know is that this is not about making a nice cell for the inmates; we have to be humane, but this about the corrections deputies that work here. Every day, the risk that they incur doing their job in this antiquated building is just something that should not have to happen," Begole said.
The new jail plan includes two things it doesn't have now: a juvenile holding facility and a mental health ward.
"We are hoping for a new sheriff's office that will have the means to house the inmates. But it's about bringing the sheriff's office up to date with a current facility so we can perform the job that we are here to do," Begole said.
But Shiawassee County Commissioner Gary Holzhausen says that building a new jail will cost too much money and residents can't afford to pay for it.
"At least 30 percent of the people in the county are struggling and are not making ends meet and someone's got to support those," Holzhausen said.
If the measure passes, there will be a 20-year property tax increase. The millage rate would go up more than $1.60 for every $1,000 of taxable value. So, if you have a $50,000 taxable value on your house, your taxes would go up $82 a year.
