Leader Telegram article Feb 16

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Jail, courthouse referendum not likely to happen
By Andrew Dowd Leader-Telegram staff

Some citizens are asking for a halt or referendum on Eau Claire County's $59.1 million jail and courthouse remodeling project, but County Board members said that's not likely.

Board member Howard Ludwigson supported holding a referendum on the project and got the County Board to vote on his proposal during the June meeting where the budget project was approved.

"The County Board turned it down," he said. "It's not that the County Board didn't have that opportunity."

The Board voted 17-10 against the referendum on June 19. To overturn that, a board member who voted against the referendum would have to request it be reconsidered, or a referendum request would have to be attached to upcoming bond issues.

Even if that happened, Ludwigson said the board's membership hasn't changed enough to request a referendum, though he feels that's still the way to go.

Kathleen Clark and other board members argued that most people did not attend open meetings and information sessions held by the County Board and don't know as much about the project as County Board members. She added that county government is not subject to the same referendum requirements as public schools.

"There is nothing in the state statutes requiring us to have a referendum," she said.

A 1992 local government spending cap does limit how much counties can borrow, but that can be overridden by a three-quarters vote of the County Board. In the case of the jail and remodeling project, the $59.1 million cost put the project just under the limit of about $60 million that would have required a referendum.

Citizens can petition for an advisory referendum, but Ludwigson said it's doubtful enough signatures could be gathered in time.

To get on the April ballot, a referendum question would have to be approved by Tuesday, county Clerk Janet Loomis said.

A special election for a referendum could be held, Ludwigson said, but that would cost a few thousand dollars if not done on a regular election day.

Bond issue reaching board Wednesday

Construction of the new jail is slated to begin in fall, and the County Board will vote Wednesday on the first $25 million of borrowing. The county originally planned to borrow $10 million in 2008, but wanted to take advantage of current low interest rates.

Clark, a member of the Finance and Budget Committee, said the recommendation is to borrow $25 million this year, $25 million the next and $9.1 million in 2010.

Lower interest rates also are expected to lower the final cost of the jail to $92 million when interest is included, Clark said. Previous projections put the final price tag at $99.5 million.

Community members have lobbed allegations that the county is underestimating costs of the jail and will go above the $59.1 million approved construction costs.

In a letter to city and county politicians and the media, Eau Claire resident Paul Kaldjian wrote that the "cost of the jail has been disingenuously underestimated at $59.1 million."

However, county Project Manager Frank Draxler said that is the ceiling set by the County Board, and the project cannot go over that price, but some parts of the plan could be scaled back if they are too expensive.

"We're not to exceed 59.1, period," he said. "If things cost more, they'll have to be cut."

After years of studies and multiple votes, Draxler noted the County Board has approved building the jail between the courthouse and First Avenue.

At the June 19 meeting, by a vote of 16-11 the County Board approved a new jail and courthouse remodeling. Spending $59.1 million for construction passed 15-12. Board member Tami Schraufnagel switched her vote.

Since then, those decisions have been reinforced by other votes including approval of an architect, construction manager, buying property for the new jail and a higher tax rate in the 2008 county budget.