As dirt begins to move at the site of a new jail, Fulton County officials are getting reassurance that any loss of income tax revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic won’t hinder the county from making necessary bond payments.

Accounting and consulting firm Baker and Tilly reports the county could endure a 10-12 percent loss in income tax revenues and still make bond payments on the construction of the new Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center at 2184 Sweetgum Road.

Commissioner Bryan Lewis says the county may need to explore other financing options, or a dip into the rainy day fund, if that loss of income tax revenues reaches 15 percent. He’s not worried at the moment.

“Baker Tilly says we’re still OK, that we can lose revenue and still make the payments,” he said. “The timing is not ideal, but the bonds are sold and we’ve got the money to move forward.”

“Hopefully this thing is short-lived and passes in a manner that we can get back to work,” he said of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It may slow us up a bit, but I think we’ll still be good.”

The anticipated date of substantial completion is May 2021, with the date of occupancy to come about two months later. The nearly 55,000-square-foot facility will have 198 inmate beds and house both the sheriff’s office and dispatch center.

The facility will carry the same footprint and very similar design to that of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center in Decatur, designed by Elevatus Architecture.

The guaranteed maximum price for construction is $23,079,236 – approved through an agreement with Garmong Construction Service, the county’s construction management firm for the project.

Lewis reports the county and the city of Rochester have not yet reached an agreement on the cost to upgrade a sewer lift station, which is necessary for the new facility.

He said coming to an agreement is important but for now county officials are focused on more pressing matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s very important, but the focus on this COVID-19 situation is a little more important right now, but it all has to move forward,” Lewis said.

He is to draft a proposal on the lift station upgrade for consideration by his fellow commissioners. Upon their approval, it would then be presented to the city of Rochester.

Site developer Beer & Slabaugh is moving dirt on the new jail site this week. The pouring of concrete is slated to begin in early May.
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