Officials to try again for new jail

JEROME (AP) - Jerome County voters will decide May 25 whether to let the county go ahead with a plan to replace the current jail that authorities say can no longer pass some inspections.

Voters rejected a similar plan in November to replace the 35-year-old jail.

Jerome County Sheriff Doug McFall said the life span of the current jail depends on whether the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program will continue to cover it with insurance as the liability increases due to facility deficiencies.

"The jail will definitely have to close, it's just a matter of when," McFall said.

The plan put before voters last November narrowly failed to get the 66 percent supermajority it needed to pass.

The plan is similar in this month's election and calls for private investors to supply the money to build the facility, with Jerome County leasing the jail from the investors with an option to purchase it at the end of the lease.

The lease, according to the ballot question, would not exceed 30 years and would have an estimated annual interest rate of 6 percent. The estimated total county payment over the life of the lease would be $30 million.