Initial footprint rendering of what the new jail could look like

MONTICELLO – The state has made it clear that Sullivan County must build a new jail. In fact, the county is in the midst of planning a new facility on a site on Old Route 17 between Monticello and Harris.

But, because the price tag is estimated at between $65 million and $80 million, Sheriff Michael Schiff is hoping county officials can pursuade state Commission of Corrections Chairman Thomas Beilein to give them some more time when he visits the county on January 27.

“We’re hoping for some flexibility from him to get us through this financial crisis to a point where sales tax is up or gambling might come, or maybe with the next round of stimulus money there might be an opportunity to get some monies from that; anything for a break,” he said. “Just right now in this financial downturn, it’s a difficult time to be looking to do a project of this magnitude.”

When Beilein met with Dutchess County lawmakers last year, he told them they had to do something to resolve the overcrowding issue at their county jail, but he made it clear that the state would not provide any of the funding to do it.