STOCKTON - Hopes are high the county can net up to $80 million to expand the overcrowded San Joaquin County Jail, but county policymakers still are concerned about future operating costs.

County officials raised the possibility of going to voters to help pay to run an expanded jail at a meeting Tuesday of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, where the board approved an application to be submitted to the state.

The county will rank high in the point system used by the state to judge applications, particularly because the county will house a regional re-entry center for inmates leaving the crowded state prison system, San Joaquin County Sheriff Steve Moore said. "We have the only sited and set re-entry facility in the state of California at this time."

Like other counties in the state, San Joaquin must sometimes release prisoners early because of overcrowding. There was concern the state might not award the full amount.

"I believe they're going to split the baby, and we'll get 65 or 50 (million dollars); that's my guess," Supervisor Larry Ruhstaller said.

The application includes a recommendation from a new jail study to build a first phase of expansion to nearly double the size of the jail system, increasing capacity by 1,280 beds, estimated to cost more than $105.5 million, according to the Sheriff's Office. The ongoing costs to operate the new facility were estimated at $41.2 million.

If the county does not begin operating the facility as a jail within 90 days after it is completed, the state can evict the county, according to the Sheriff's Office.

There are "a million and one" ways of addressing the operation cost issue, from a sales tax to a bond measure to a parcel tax, Moore said.

But it will be most important to get countywide support to solve a problem exacerbating crime countywide, he said. "You don't only need the buy-in from city governments, but I think you also need the support of the citizens."

Contact reporter Zachary K. Johnson at (209) 546-8258 or zjohnson@recordnet.com.

Reader Reaction These discussions and our forums are not moderated. We rely on users to police themselves, and flag inappropriate comments and behavior. You need not be registered to report abuse. In accordance with our Terms of Service, we reserve the right to remove any post at any time for any reason, and will restrict access of registered users who repeatedly violate our terms. Click here if you wish to report inappropriate comments or behavior.