6-4 vote sinks plan to expand jail capacity
EUGENE, Ore. -- Two proposals that would have opened beds to hold inmates at the Lane County Jail were shot down Tuesday by the Lane County Budget Committee.
The committee voted 6-4 to not open 84 beds on July 1. The plan would have cost the county $3.2 million dollars.
A compromise plan to spend half that money and open the jail beds by January 2010 was also defeated.
The jail routinely has to release people accused of crimes even if they have not faced trial, been sentenced or posted bail due to a lack of jail beds.
A plan to add five prosecutors in lane county was approved.
Five county sheriff deputies will also be added pending approval of a federal grant.
The full county commission now has to approve this plan.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D.-Ore., wrote a letter to county officials Tuesday on the topic of public safety and spending of county payments from the federal government.
