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committed to; it must be voted on and approved every year at budget time. Hw specified that <br />every year the Board will get to vote on how the 1 -cent sales tax is spent. He also explained <br />the leasing of beds at the jail to Federal prisoners and the use of that income The need for <br />expansion of the jail is to handle the increased population of women prisoners who must <br />be kept separate from men. <br />Chairman Macht explained that in the expansion plan, there is a plan t,O provide 200 <br />1 <br />beds for Federal prisoners because of the income derived. The income from ousing them <br />is used to defray building and operating costs. The downside of not providing space is the <br />Federal government will require us to release prisoners. The County is late in doing this jail <br />expansion because the Board was not made aware of this need by the previous sheriff, we <br />should have done it 3 years ago. He also remarked on the increase of women prisoners. <br />Brian Heady, Vero Beach, thought the first thing to be done is to look behind the <br />scenes to see actual needs. He asked if there were any adjustments made since the 9/11/01 <br />downturn. <br />Assistant County Administrator Baird explained that the County's budget is on target <br />because the County projects 5% under the estimate from the State. Looking forward, the <br />growth factor is very low on revenue projection because of the 9/11 slowing of the economy. <br />It has been taken into consideration. Indian River County has no shortfall. <br />Mr. Heady commented on his "30 -day study" at the jail and reported on his findings. <br />He suggested that some of the prisoners should not be incarcerated at all but perhaps under <br />house arrest or electronic monitoring. He minimized the need for expanding tf e jail, a new <br />Administration Building, and beach renourishment; he suggested the $30 million should be <br />used for something else, perhaps a tax reduction. He denigrated certain housing projects, <br />roadway improvements, beach renourishment, and suggested the School Board building be <br />utilized for additional space for the Administration Building. <br />March 11, 2003 <br />19 <br />U.i 1 <br />