Jim Ley: Great challenges confront Sarasota County

[News Flash]

“When bad news comes your way, you tend to dig in and get defensive. We don’t serve the public well if we do that.” Jim Ley is the top administrator of Sarasota County.

In an interview, Ley sees storms ahead.

While income is going down, demands are not. A case in point is the need for a new jail. “If we built the jail we have now – it cost us $20 million – and would probably cost us twice as much now,” he said.

The local Criminal Justice Commission of judges, law enforcement officers, elected officials and service providers recommends a rehabilitation center in addition to the new jail. Ley tends to favor that approach. “Putting people in jail is the most expensive alternative,” he said.

One big challenge of 2009 is finding a place to build the jail. “No place is off the table,” he said. A south-county location is possible, if the new facility is for sentenced prisoners and not people awaiting trial. Some estimates for the total cost run as high as $80 million, which will require a bond referendum.

Perhaps the largest change Ley sees on the horizon is financial. Revenues are going down again. Ley estimates another 10 percent drop in the tax roll, a little less than the drop in 2008.

He informed the county commission...

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[Retired n Luvin it]

Hey Jimbo~~ Here's an idea

What if we get the Red Sox here.. they can start a baseball camp for prisoners as an alternative to jail.

The county can foot the bill and pay the Red Sox to tutor these mopes, and in the process we will supplement the Red Sox coffers , enticing them to stay in the land of milk, honey, sunshine and Geritol~ A place I like to call Sarasoty