The largest local money measure on the November ballot is a $10 million bond request that would, if approved, finance a new 76-bed jail in Crook County. It’s time voters said yes to the proposal.

Crook County has been renting jail space from neighboring Jefferson County since the latter opened a new jail in 2001. Today, it pays $1.826 million annually to rent beds, transport prisoners between Prineville and Madras and operate its own 16-bed jail. While the proposed 76-bed jail wouldn’t save money, it would cost county residents only slightly more than the current arrangement does and offer positive things in return.

County Sheriff John Gautney puts operating costs for the new jail at $1.833 million annually. Property taxes on a $100,000 home are expected to rise by $22 annually, though that number could change when bonds are actually sold. New staff to operate the jail would be added only when needed.

The new jail would allow Crook County to keep its prisoners home. Currently the sheriff’s department must drive them to Madras and return them to Prineville for court appearances, medical treatment and the like. Too, prisoners’ families must make the 60-mile round trip to Madras if they are to visit relatives incarcerated there.

There’s another advantage, as well. Crook County is responsible for a prisoner’s safety and welfare no matter where he or she is housed. Should a Crook County prisoner be injured in Madras or while being transported, Crook County would be on the financial hook. Keeping prisoners home should reduce that risk.

Finally, the county’s jail is so small that prisoners held there for misdemeanor crimes often must be let out early to make way for more serious offenders. The new jail would put an end to that practice.

In addition to the $10 million bond, the county itself plans to add $3 million to jail construction and the city of Prineville is expected to put up another $1 million in reduced fees, utility relocation and the like. That’s a good deal for the county and its residents, good enough to make voting “yes” on the county’s Measure 7-64 the right thing to do.