Sarpy County to Vote on Proposed Jail Location

Sarpy County officials will vote on the potential location for a new jail next week, which would be built on the west side of the Sarpy County Courthouse campus.

The proposed jail comes after the state of Nebraska raised concerns about overcrowding at the current jail, which has been over-capacity since the mid-1990s. Sarpy County Board chairman Don Kelly said the proposed location makes a lot of sense.

“There’s been a jail on that same location for decades and most people don’t even know it exists," Kelly said. "And our goal would be to make sure that it stays that way. We’ll try and blend it in to the campus, in a seamless manner, so it’s not apparent that there is even a jail there.”

The county can build the jail without raising taxes, according to financial projections. Sarpy County officials plan to pay for the estimated $65 million jail with an existing levy and inheritance tax revenue. Commissioners will vote on the proposed jail location next Tuesday.