OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson has provided a detailed update on the county’s new jail project, including projected costs, construction timelines, and potential funding sources. His remarks give the clearest picture yet of what remains to be built and how much taxpayers might expect to contribute.
The county originally secured a $260 million bond in June 2022 to replace the existing Oklahoma County Detention Center. That funding was intended to cover planning, land acquisition, site preparation, and early construction phases but was never expected to finance the entire facility.
“When voters approved the bond, we had no finalized site plan, engineering, population study, or schematic design,” Davidson said. News 9 previously reported that the original bond would only accommodate roughly 700 beds, far below the county’s current detainee population of about 1,600.
Early estimates for the total construction cost ranged between $700 million and $750 million, later revised upward to $835 million when accounting for furniture, fixtures, and equipment.
Davidson stressed that even at the higher figure, the investment is justified. “Failing to replace the current jail could trigger federal intervention by the U.S. Department of Justice, potentially costing $1 billion to $1.5 billion,” he said.
Construction inflation and bond limits had already pushed projected costs above $500 million before the revised budget.
The first major structure under construction is a $220 million reception and intake center, designed to hold 486 individuals for up to 24 hours. Davidson explained that the intake center will speed processing, reducing costs associated with delays in intake and release.
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Alongside the jail, the county is building a $45 million behavioral health center, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The center aims to address community mental health needs, with construction management contracted to Flintco.
“ARPA rules require the project to be completed by December 2026, or else penalties of $1,000 per day apply,” Davidson said, expressing confidence that the county will meet the deadline.
To close the funding gap, Davidson proposed a permanent countywide public safety sales tax—the first of its kind in Oklahoma County. While the final rate is still under negotiation, Davidson emphasized the benefits:
“In January, the Citizens Bond Oversight Advisory Board recommended a sales tax to close the long-term funding gap,” Davidson said.
Commissioners are preparing to sell remaining bond funds, advance the next construction phases, and finalize the proposed sales tax to ensure the county stays on track with both the jail and behavioral health center projects.
Originally reported by Graham Dowers in News 9.
