NTF worksheet: douglascounty140.doc. 6-19.
NEBRASKA TAXPAYERS FOR FREEDOM WORKSHEET:
SEPARATE THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER FACILITY PLAN.
Good morning. Doug Kagan, 416 South 130 Street, speaking on behalf of NE Taxpayers for Freedom. Our taxpayer group is requesting the county board today to separate the juvenile detention facility planning from the other justice facilities expansion. Whereas there appears general agreement on the need and location for justice facility expansion, the juvenile detention improvement has generated enormous controversy. Much intelligent reasoning and financial analysis has recommended an expansion at the Woolworth Str. site. The number of detention units and scope of detention has generated much debate. The county is still in the process of finding and utilizing alternatives to detention. Hopefully, the county will find still more alternatives in future months. However, the recidivism rate seems substantial for several alternatives presently used. These contrasting factors lead taxpayers to voice an uproar of concern about both the size and accommodations of a new juvenile facility. These concerns have not yet been satisfactorily resolved, in our opinion.
Therefore, we urge commissioners to vote on the other justice facilities at a determined cost and allow additional time for public deliberation on a juvenile detention center that would result in the ability for informed voters to decide the issue next spring at the ballot box.
Thank you.
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Addendum:
Commissioner Kraft: Opponents of building the juvenile detention center downtown misunderstand the situation. Not building it downtown is irresponsible, ill-advised, and plain wrong.
Commissioner Cavanaugh: A public board and private corporation working together under a no-bid contract is a conflict of interest and will result in a property tax hike. Town halls have shown that there is a better and cheaper way to build the juvenile detention center.
Voting to spend $114 million to design and build an expanded justice center and juvenile detention center downtown:
YES, against taxpayers: Borgeson, Boyle, Duda, Kraft, Morgan, Rodgers. NO, with taxpayers: Cavanaugh.