Mental health jail wing cost goes up by $2 million

A special jail wing designed for inmates with mental health issues will cost $2 million more than initially estimated.

With design work nearly finished on the proposed mental health jail, Benton County has a clearer picture of what it will cost to build: $5.6 million.

Larry Hueter, who manages the county’s capital projects, said the new estimate better reflects the full cost to construct the facility, including soft costs such as architectural and engineering fees, building permits and sales tax. The county would fund the project from proceeds of a one-tenth of a percent sales tax specific to supporting jail operations and maintenance.

While surprised by the price increase, commissioners acknowledged the need for a designated area where prisoners can be isolated and watched if they are at risk of harming themselves or others.

“I don’t think the mental health situation is going to go away. We have to accommodate those customers in our system,” said Commissioner Jim Beaver.

The commission plans to discuss the cost issue in more depth at a future meeting.

This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 8:15 PM with the headline "Mental health jail wing cost goes up by $2 million."