MOVE Midland, a 501(c)4 non-profit organization is shedding light on the Midland County Commission's $170 million plan for a new jail through a certificate of obligation (CO) bond.
MOVE Midland is comprised of Midlanders dedicated to "move Midland forward," including former Midland mayors Ernest Angelo and Mike Canon. The group intends to provide information about existing and proposed jail facilities without advocating for or against the CO. According to MOVE, its goal is "to empower Midlanders to make informed opinions."
Midland County issued a $3.8 million bond in 1988 to construct the current 201-bed jail. In 2009, a $21.9 million voter-approved general obligation bond facilitated the jail’s two-phase expansion, including a 72-bed tent for minimum-security inmates and a 144-bed building. The expansion project was approximately $5 million under budget, and the county refinanced the remaining debt through a CO in 2016. The county projects the outstanding $2.8 million will be paid by February 2025.
Even after expansion, the jail consistently exceeded capacity, and the county routinely paid to send inmates to neighboring jails. The jail has repeatedly been out of compliance with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards for issues like plumbing problems and leaks. A third party looked at the feasibility of renovating the current jail and determined it was more economical to build a new facility. These issues, including multiple escapes from the tent jail, prompted the commissioners to pursue a new facility.
In November 2022, commissioners acquired a $6 million, 234-acre site five miles from the current jail. The county considered multiple properties and chose the location because it offered a large footprint unencumbered by pipelines, wells, or tank batteries. The county plans to use the excess land for a water treatment plan, currently in the planning stages, and other potential purposes. The commissioners also hired a project manager to keep the facility within budget.
The proposed 230,000-square-foot, $170 million facility will initially accommodate 800 beds, expandable to 1,200 beds with additional funding. The county asserts the larger capacity is an opportunity to house federal prisoners, potentially generating extra revenue. In November, commissioners heard financing options for the jail, including a voter-approved general obligation bond or a non-voter-approved CO. County staff highlighted that a public vote failure would require a three-year wait to issue a CO.
The County Auditor provided insights into interest payments, which indicate that a 10-year repayment would cost $40 million, 15 years would cost $65 million, and 20 years would cost $95 million. Estimated property tax increases are an additional $130 per year for a 10-year repayment on a $350,000 valued property based on the county’s current taxable value. Costs are lower for a 15-year or 20-year repayment.
Four out of five commissioners must vote in favor of the financing plan to proceed.
Midland County Commissioners Court:
County Judge Terry Johnson, tjohnson@mcounty.com
Precinct 1 Commissioner Scott Ramsey, sramsey@mcounty.com
Precinct 2 Commissioner Jeff Somers, jsomers@mcounty.com
Precinct 3 Commissioner Luis Sanchez, lsanchez@mcounty.com
Precinct 4 Commissioner Dianne Anderson, danderson@mcounty.com