CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish has announced his plans to introduce legislation to acquire property and extend the sales tax in efforts to replace the county's aging jail.
According to a release from the county, the legislation that will be introduced at next week's council meeting will authorize:
- A $20 million Purchase Agreement made by the county for three parcels of land located at 2700 Transport Road in Cleveland
- The County to accept assignment of a $6,407,000 Purchase Agreement between the Greater Cleveland Community Improvement Corporation (GCCIC) and Ohio Properties 2021 LLC for five parcels of land located near Interstate 77 and Heidtman Parkway
- Enacting a new chapter to the County Code that extends the existing quarter percent County sales tax for a continuing period of time
The proposed legislation from Budish marks a key step in Cuyahoga County's efforts to replace the 46-year-old Corrections Center, a process that has taken more than two years.
"Based upon in-depth studies and investigations, it is clear that our current jail is outdated," Budish said in a statement. "A new jail will be more safe, efficient, and effective both for the prisoners and the corrections personnel, and will enable the County to satisfy all State standards."
The county's preferred location for their new jail is on Transport Road, currently the site of a container storage facility. The land is currently undergoing analysis to ensure that it can be cleared of environmental restrictions.
The plan would be for the county to take control of the 40-acre Cuyahoga Valley Industrial Center site in Slavic Village that used to be the home of a steel mill, then offer that area for the container storage facility company to purchase for $6.4 million. Cuyahoga County would then buy the land on Transport Road for $20 million.
The site in Slavic Village was considered as a potential site of the next Cuyahoga County Jail, but political and community leaders in Cleveland pushed back because of its proximity to residential areas as well as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio on Broadway.
The existing quarter percent sales tax, which was implemented in 2007 and set to expire in 2027, will be extended under the proposed legislation.
Last year, Budish said the new Cuyahoga County Corrections Center will house approximately 1,900 inmates and is expected to be ready in 2025. The cost of the jail is estimated at $550 million.
Budish will introduce the legislation at next Tuesday's Cuyahoga County Council meeting. It will then move through multiple committee and council meetings before a vote is taken.
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