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COUNTYWIDE : Measure J Money Study Is Delayed

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The Regional Justice Facilities Commission decided Wednesday to delay hiring a financial consultant to determine how much money would be generated by Measure J, the half-cent sales tax referendum that would fund criminal justice facilities, until after the May 14 election.

The county commission, which put Measure J on the ballot, also decided to ask the county for $50,000 to fund its operations until it can collect revenue from the half-cent sales tax increase, if it is approved by voters.

Supporters of Measure J, who want the tax revenue to be used to build a jail in Gypsum Canyon just east of Anaheim, have said that the 30-year tax could raise $344 million by the 17th year, a number that they borrowed from projections for Measure M, the 20-year transportation tax.

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Measure J opponents have said that voters should not approve the tax if they do not know exactly what they will be getting.

But county officials, who are advising the commission, recommended deferring the study for reasons of money.

“It does not appear at this time to be prudent to hire consultants when you don’t know if you’ll have the money to pay them,” said Eileen Walsh, associate administrative officer for the county.

At its meeting, the commission also said that it would ask cities, the county and nonprofit agencies for suggestions on justice facilities--such as jails or juvenile halls--that could be built with the tax money. The commission “encouraged” the cities to submit the proposals by May 1 but will also consider others submitted later.

The commission must by law approve a master plan showing how the money will be used, but it does not have to be adopted before the election.

The county is expected to submit plans to build a 6,700-bed jail at Gypsum Canyon.

Other proposals are also expected. Kevin Meehan, executive director of Orange County Youth and Family Services, a nonprofit organization that operates several halfway houses for youths and adults, said he plans to submit a proposal through one of the cities.

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Meehan said he wants to propose facilities to house suspected criminals who are now cited and released because of lack of space at county jails, and for others whose sentences are shortened because of the jail overcrowding problem. His organization would run the facilities.

“We could offer employment counseling, or drug and alcohol counseling, for these people, instead of having them be out on the street,” he said.

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