Sac County is taking another shot at replacing Iowa’s oldest jail — and this time, officials say the plan is leaner, cheaper, and built directly from public feedback.
The Sac County Sheriff’s Office has announced a new bond measure heading to voters on Nov. 3, proposing a $10 million financing package to build a new jail and modernize critical public safety infrastructure. It’s the county’s third attempt in as many years to replace the 85‑year‑old facility, which has struggled with safety, compliance and aging equipment.
Sheriff’s officials say this year’s proposal is significantly scaled back from the $12.5 million plan voters rejected last fall. That measure received about 57 percent approval — short of the 60 percent supermajority required to pass. The year before, a similar bond also failed. Both defeats sent county leaders back to the drawing board.
The new plan eliminates the two‑phase project that previously included a jail plus a major addition and remodel of the sheriff’s office. Instead, the 2026 proposal focuses on essentials: a new jail, a combined control and communications center built inside the facility, and a remodel of the existing sally port to meet evidence‑storage needs. The total project cost is $10.8 million, but with support from the county board of supervisors, $800,000 will be covered through the next two budget years — bringing the bond amount down to an even $10 million.
The sheriff’s office says the new design is structurally similar to the recently completed Pocahontas County Jail, offering a proven model for efficient operations. Updated blueprints show a single‑story layout with integrated dispatch control, booking, inmate housing, kitchen, laundry and administrative areas — all under one roof. The existing jail would be demolished, and the remodeled sally port would serve as secure evidence storage.
A detailed tax‑impact statement released with the bond proposal shows the estimated cost to property owners over the 20‑year life of the measure. For residential property assessed at $100,000, the annual increase would be about $38.57 — roughly $3.22 per month. A $250,000 home would see an annual increase of about $96.41, or $8.04 per month. Commercial and agricultural properties follow similar rates, all falling under the current levy limit.
Sheriff’s officials say failing to build a new facility could cost taxpayers more than $13.5 million over the next two decades in out‑of‑county housing and transport expenses. A partnership announced last year with Calhoun County — which no longer operates its own jail — would bring in an estimated $122,000 annually if Sac County builds a new facility, generating more than $2.4 million over the life of a 20‑year bond.
The department plans to host open houses in the coming weeks to give residents a firsthand look at the current jail and explain the proposed design. Officials say the goal is transparency — showing exactly what’s changed since last year’s proposal and how the new plan addresses public concerns.
The sheriff’s office says anyone seeking more information or wanting a presentation for a community group can contact them in person, by phone at 712‑662‑7127 or by email at sacso@saccountyiowa.gov.
