20261027 Jail District Meeting

At the Cochise County Jail District meeting on October 27, 2026, the board approved Resolution 26-01 clarifying the rates of the jail district excise tax established by Resolution 25-04. Staff said the clarification will allow the Arizona Department of Revenue to collect the tax appropriately from online lodging marketplace vendors. The consent agenda was also approved, 3-0.

The board voted 2-1 to increase the new jail project budget for design, engineering, and construction from $130 million to a not-to-exceed $160 million. Staff cited construction-cost inflation and said the higher budget would preserve additional beds and planned medical, safety, and courtroom facilities. The design-build procurement is underway: interested parties attended a site visit, staff are responding to bidder questions, and the district hopes to award the contract in late March. Officials also said they are monitoring bond-market conditions to seek favorable financing and faster principal repayment.