Local News in Brief : Governor Gets Bill Providing $10.6 Million for Ventura Jail
A bill providing Ventura County with at least $10.6 million in state bond money to build another jail was sent to the governor for his signature Wednesday night after it passed the state Senate by a 27-1 vote.
The bill, authored by Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside), spreads $495 million among the state’s 58 counties. The money was generated by the June passage of Proposition 52, which authorized the state bond issue for prison construction.
A new jail, housing at least 600 prisoners, is needed to ease the overcrowding at Ventura County’s current jail and its honor farm, Assistant Sheriff Richard Bryce said.
The county is exploring 26 possible jail sites spread throughout the county, he said.
Ventura County could get up to $4 million more for the jail if other counties are unable to provide the 25% matching funds required to use the state bond money.
The governor is expected to sign the bill.
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