Macomb County is looking to build and staff a new $371-million jail via a proposed millage that would have county taxpayers paying the bill for the next 21 years.

The Board of Commissioners will discuss on Wednesday a proposed 0.98-mill tax for the Nov. 5 general election for the proposed new facility. The county would need 0.78 mills to fund it and 0.20 mills for operation and personnel costs, according to the board packet.

The county finance director said in a June 12 letter that a residential property with a taxable value of $100,000 would pay an extra $98 per year. The millage would support bonds to pay for the project. The millage would start in 2020.

The proposal comes after reforms were recommended for the current lockup, which has had frequent issues with overcrowding and millions of dollars in Band-Aid fixes through the years, and whose inmate care has been questioned in lawsuits.

Mandi Donnelly, who lives within 1 mile of the jail, said she would be willing to pay the extra money if the new lockup isn't built on the same spot in Mount Clemens and is built farther away from a residential area.

Lisa Bannerman of Sterling Heights said if the project can create more jobs, especially for local residents, "then I'm for it."

The total project cost is estimated at $375 million, including bond issue costs and reimbursement of architectural fees already incurred, the finance director letter states.

The jail project comes as no surprise as a study two years ago recommended sweeping reforms to jail operations and criminal justice in the county. For years, county officials have struggled with the future of the jail and talked about a new facility and its cost.

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The total estimated cost of a new jail presented to commissioners in February was $370 million to $390 million.

At that time, officials didn't propose or discuss how to pay for the proposed facility to be built on the property at the current lockup in Mount Clemens, though it was likely voters would have to approve a property tax increase through a millage or bond.

Commissioners were previously told that a new jail would take about three years to build and would be expected to last for 50 years.

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Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said Monday that he planned to give another presentation Wednesday, but said the total cost was reduced "just a little bit," and they now have hard numbers and staffing figures.

"This is the year's worth of work," he said, adding that officials are asking the board to put the proposal before voters "to see if the funding is there."

The new jail is proposed to have a 1,518-bed capacity, which is more than the current lockup, but less than originally proposed.

Wickersham said in a June 10 letter to the county executive's office that the size also was reduced and that operational costs would be reduced if the count is lower than 1,250 inmates.

Increased correction and medical staff should also reduce overtime costs, he wrote.

The proposed lockup would have a central intake that would assess those arrested to determine whether they have mental health or drug or alcohol issues, and also would include a diversion center.

There would be more programming, contemporary direct supervision of inmates and medical and mental health facilities, sheriff's officials have said.

The new jail would have 166 mental health beds compared with 24 beds in the current lockup, according to a schematic design overview in the board packet. There also would be 84 medical beds in the new jail compared with seven in the current facility.

The original jail was built in 1954, with addition after addition through the decades as the jail population grew.

"I think it's ludicrous to think that the public is clamoring to raise their taxes to build a new palace for prisoners," said Commissioner Leon Drolet, a Republican from Macomb Township.

He said he hears from constituents about roads and pollution in Lake St. Clair, but not about the jail.

"I think it's delusional to think it will pass," Drolet said. "I think it's a waste of taxpayers dollars to put it on the ballot."

Drolet said that he believes a Plan B is in order.

He said the county has several bond issues, some of which will start to be paid off in just a couple of years. He said an ordinance could be drafted that as previous debts are paid off, savings could be diverted to a jail fund to build a new lockup, though officials may have to wait five to seven years to build a new facility.

Commissioner Robert Mijac, a Sterling Heights Democrat, said he would prefer such a question be on the November 2020 ballot, when more voters would be expected.

He said only cities have elections in November, not townships, with Drolet saying a special election would have to be held in some communities for the jail proposal.

Mijac said he also would like to see more proposed to keep people out of jail, such as addressing drug and mental health issues. He noted, however, the jail "is a big issue."

Commissioner Rob Leonetti, a Democrat from Harrison Township, agreed.

"We've seen the brick and mortar part of it, and now let's see the financing part of it," he said, adding that the board is expected to do its due diligence in the next month examining the issue.

Ballot language must be approved by commissioners and certified to the county clerk by Aug. 13 to appear on the November ballot.

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Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter.