Allen County Commissioners

Allen County officials say it is impossible to fund building the new county correctional facility without a tax rate increase. The County Council is now considering what the rate increase will look like.

The owner and the Allen County Commissioners came to a purchase agreement on 140-acres in the 2900 block of Meyer Road in Fort Wayne

Proponents for these new districts say they are necessary because of a drop in volunteerism, inflation driving up the cost of equipment, and 9-1-1 calls being higher than normal.

Those issues were the subject of a federal court order from earlier in the year.

After a federal court ordered Allen County to fix the living conditions and overcrowding problem at its current jail, the commissioners hired an architect to help them determine where the best location would be to build a new jail.

The passage gives the commissioners a guide for development for the next ten to 20 years.

The new districts will likely cause tax increases for residents in those areas.

Allen County Commissioner Richard Beck said on Tuesday the address given was only ever intended to serve as an option for the courts.

The coalition has spoken out against building a new jail in the county, instead urging mental health treatment to solve an overcrowding issue.

The announcement comes at the deadline imposed by a federal court judge demanding something be done to ease jail population numbers.