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76 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, September 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 18, 2004 Grants help fund building project Federal money for Jackson County’s new Juvenile Justice Building means reduction in property tax payments By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Property tax bills will drop next year because Jackson County received $5.3 million in federal grants and other money that will pay off a portion of the $16.5 million in bonds for the new Juvenile Justice building. On a home with a maximum assessed value of $150,000, the savings will be $29.25, or 19.5 cents per thousand. Property owners will see a similar savings in 2006, followed by a slight increase in 2007 to continue paying off the 10-year bonds. County commissioners are scheduled to approve the change to property tax bills this week, after the county received two sizable infusions of money recently. Wal-Mart has agreed to pay the county $8 million for the purchase of the Miles Field property and the aging 1950s-era juvenile building. Of this amount, $1,169,000 will go toward the new building. Another $4,120,108 was received from the federal government to help expand the number of detention beds locally. Advertisement County Administrator Sue Slack said the county had anticipated receiving the money when voters approved the bond measure in 2000. "The commissioners are keeping a promise to voters when they voted ‘yes’ on the measure," she said. In 2008, property tax bills will see an increase that will depend on interest rates at the time. The bonds will be paid off in 2011. A grand opening for the juvenile justice building will take place Sept. 28, and it will be ready for use Oct. 1. The 50,405-square-foot building, located on 10th Street between King and Laurel streets, will have room for 40 beds, but can be expanded to 80. Guards can patrol remotely from a command center with 82 cameras that cover almost every square inch of the building. Electronic steel doors and elevators can be remotely operated to control the movement of inmates. A 280-foot concrete-walled tunnel runs under 10th Street and connects to another tunnel running between the county jail and the Justice Building, which houses courtrooms. The tunnel will be used to transport food and laundry and will help conceal the identities of juveniles when they are moved from the building to a courtroom. Cell walls and ceilings are lined with plate steel, and beds are concrete slabs that will have a three-inch thick cushion on top. The center will feature a courtroom and a shelter area for 16 youths who haven’t broken the law but need a place to stay. Shelter youths will get a real bed to sleep on and will be housed in a different area than inmates. The center will work with the Medford School District to offer separate classes for shelter youths and inmates. It also will have a hearing room, classroom space, intake area and 24 offices for probation and assessment. The new center replaces a building at the South Gateway Shopping Center, which has 20 detention and 16 shelter beds. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities