Oklahoma County votes to give most of its CARES funds to jail
Oklahoma City, Okla. (KOKH) — The federal government gave Oklahoma County $47 million to help fight the coronavirus and has now decided where most of it is going.
After a contentious budget meeting, Oklahoma County officials decided to spend more than $40 million on the jail.
This comes just a day after it spent $1.5 million to help people facing eviction.
The decision came with some objections from members of the county budget board.
"I'm scared to death of doing this folks," said Forrest "Butch" Freeman, Oklahoma County's Treasurer during the discussion.
Some on the board were concerned about being audited by the federal government later.
“This is so disrespectful to our citizens," said Commissioner Carrie Blumert during the vote. "I am so ashamed that this is what’s happening right now."
So taken aback by the decision, Blumert left the room.
“The item we voted on today never went through any of our committees, it was not properly vetted and the D.A.’s office hadn’t properly weighed in on it," Blumert told Fox 25 after the meeting.
During the meeting, members of the jail trust described an overcrowded, dangerous situation at the jail needing money to fix it.
"We’re stacking them up," said Sue Ann Arnall. "It’s extremely dangerous. We are so subject to lawsuits right now with this large number of people right now in the jail."
Arnall said the jail has almost 2,000 inmates, three or four people in cells, and doesn't have enough COVID-19 tests.
Blumert supported giving some money to the jail but was also working to use some of it for things like helping small businesses or non-profits.
“It was so frustrating to see that happen, and when my office has received phone call after phone call and email after email of businesses, non-profits and citizens who need help and we’re sitting on this money, your money, your tax dollars," Blumert said.
Commissioner Kevin Calvey thinks they should stick to things they already fund.
“It is irresponsible budgeting to take on new tasks that county government has never done before, or at least hasn’t done in a long, long time, before we take care of our own house," Calvey said during the meeting.
Commissioner Brian Maughan agrees, saying they need to stop the spread of COVID-19 from the jail.
At the end of the meeting, Sheriff P.D. Taylor, expressed some of his frustration with the vote.
"Just for the record, I want everyone to know I voted ‘no’ on item four," Taylor said. "I’m assuming people who voted ‘no’ won’t have to go to the federal bureau of prisons."
The funds still have to be approved by the board of commissioners next week, but two out of the three already voted for the jail funding at Thursday's budget board meeting.
The funds are meant to make the jail more resistant to COVID-19.
Some will go towards repairs to plumbing and ventilation.
It will also provide hazard pay for its workers.