Nearly two months after it was first discussed, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors approved the language for a $94.5 million bond to build a new jail and law enforcement facility in a divided 3-2 vote.
The bond will go before Johnson County voters for final approval during the Nov. 3 general election. To pass, the county will need at least 60% of voters, since Iowa law requires a supermajority for bond votes.
Johnson County has a storied yet unsuccessful history with bonds for a new jail, with measures twice rejected by voters in the last 25 years.
The bond would allow for the construction of a 120-bed facility, with room to expand to 140 as the county grows. The costs can not exceed the $94.5 million bond.
Current community pushback, combined with a past of failed bond votes for a new jail, has sparked a fierce debate over the need for the new facility and its size.
County selected 35-acre plot near Historic Poor Farm for new jail
The supervisors selected a 35-acre plot of land in western Iowa City as the location for the new jail, and entered into a purchase agreement for the $2.1 million deal on July 2.
The county has not finalized development plans, according to a Johnson County press release. However, it “is intended to serve as a long-term asset for future County development needs, including a new sheriff’s office and jail.”
The land is currently a hilly field, but the county is moving forward with making it the new home for its 118,000 sq. ft. proposed jail.
Vote passes following failed filibuster by Fixmer-Oraiz
Johnson County supervisors Jon Green, Lisa Green-Douglass, and Rod Sullivan voted in favor of the proposal, while V Fixmer-Oraiz and Mandi Remington were opposed.
Green, the board’s chairperson, said that the county “deserves facilities that are suitable for our residents and our employees.”
“The current sheriff’s office and jail have been inadequate, and this question represents County residents’ investment in our shared future,” Green said in a news release on Aug. 6. “I recognize the project cost is significant, but as we’ve seen over the past two decades, the price will only continue to increase so long as we fail to address the problem.”
Supervisor Fixmer-Oraiz attempted to filibuster the vote by reading the “Roberts Rules of Order,” a handbook on parliamentary procedure, into the record. The filibuster lasted roughly six minutes as the board chair, Jon Green, made a motion to end debate and proceed to a roll call vote. The vote was 3-2, with Fixmer-Oraiz and Remington opposed.
Before their filibuster, Fixmer-Oraiz proposed an amendment to add the total cost of the project to the bond language. With a 12-year repayment plan, the county estimates it might incur upwards of $25 million in interest. Fixmer-Oraiz said it was important to be transparent about the total cost of the project, which they said could reach $120.5 million with interest.
“That money is real,” Fixmer-Oraiz said. “I would like to make sure from the governmental transparency perspective that we’re putting the actual cost of the jail on here.”
Sullivan, Green, and Green-Douglass voted against Fixmer-Oraiz’s motion, noting that the language was approved by bond counsel and new language could have “unintended effects.”
Supervisors move forward with 12-year repayment plan
County estimates suggest county property tax bills could increase by $88 per $100,000 of taxable valuation for the duration of the 12-year payback period for the bond.
Here’s a breakdown of the estimated yearly increase in property taxes based on the city’s median home value, according to Piper Sandler, a consultant hired by the county for financial advising on the bond:
The county has also said it might not use all $94.5 million, as they continue to look for cost savings and decide what type of facility would be right for Johnson County.
Renderings call for a 118,000 sq. ft. Johnson County jail facility
The county has yet to vote on a final jail design, but blueprints for a 118,500-square-foot facility split the building evenly between law enforcement and jail cells. The jail will house 120 beds, with shell space for 20 more.
The new jail facility is expected to open in August 2029, with construction beginning in August 2027.
Jail infrastructure crumbling, transportation costs millions
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office has long advocated for a new jail because the current facility, built in 1918, has exceeded its typical lifespan. Johnson County’s population has nearly doubled since, according to census data.
Space constraints and poor conditions have limited the number of inmates the facility can safely hold, requiring Johnson County to pay almost $380,000 in out-of-county housing costs and roughly $132,000 in transportation to shuttle inmates to other counties, according to the sheriff’s 2024 report. The county has spent more than $20 million over the last decade to move inmates.
A July 2024 report by Shive-Hattery also found that the jail is “crowded and aging” and has “long-term structural issues.” The county has pledged more than $3 million to address the current structural concerns.
“I’m happy the Board is moving in the right direction and putting this on the ballot for the voters to decide,” Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel said in an Aug. 6 news release. “This issue is about solving a critical infrastructural need for Johnson County and better serving our staff and those in our custody.”
Liam Halawith covers Johnson County local government, the University of Iowa, and crime for the Press-Citizen. Reach him by email at lhalawith@registermedia.com. Follow him on X at @liam_halawith.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Johnson County approves $94.5M jail bond language for November ballot
Reporting by Liam Halawith, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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By Liam Halawith, Iowa City Press-Citizen | USA TODAY Network
