Governor Mike DeWine recently announced grant awards for local jail projects. During negotiations for the past Ohio Capital Budget the Ohio General Assembly and DeWine administration dedicated $50 million in support for new construction and repair of jail facilities at the local level of government. Like many other areas of public infrastructure, many of Ohio’s jails are suffering from deferred maintenance and aging infrastructure that doesn’t support the needs of the state and local governments. The Local Jail grant program was administered by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and received almost $400 million in funding request.
The Montrose Group was fortunate to support Coshocton County and Sheriff Jim Crawford with their grant application, which resulted in a $10 million award out of the total $50 million. Other grant award recipients were;
- Gallia County $5.5 million
- Harrison County $9.1 million
- Lawrence County $16.8 million
- Sciot County Jail $1.5 million
- Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail $1.9 million
State capital support for local jail construction has long been a priority of the Ohio County Commissioners Association and the Buckeye State Sheriffs Association who both advocated for the inclusion of the $50 million in funding support. Recent legislation, House Bill 101, sponsored by Representative Jason Stephens and Representative Jay Edwards passed the Ohio House, which would create a framework for the state to fund local jail projects similar to the process the state uses to determine state support for K-12 school districts. The demand for the program and the changing environment of local jails shows the need for additional state funding. Ohio’s jails are facing challenges ranging from dealing with greater mental health issues to being responsive to infectious disease outbreaks that have shown the need for 21st century facilities that meet the demands of these increased pressures. If you would like to learn more about House Bill 101 or the efforts to provide more funding for local jails and how The Montrose Group can support your organization, contact Tim Biggam, Director of Government Relations, [email protected].