Worries over Toledo Pulling Out of Regional Jail

Williams County offi­cials are con­tem­plat­ing the impact of the pos­si­ble defec­tion of Toledo and Lucas County from the Cor­rec­tions Cen­ter of North­west Ohio. The CCNO put out the alarm that Lucas county and Toledo are think­ing about pulling out and build­ing their own jail that could house more than a thou­sand inmates. Nearly 25 years ago Toledo and Lucas County joined with Williams, Defi­ance, Ful­ton and Henry Coun­ties to build the CCNO as a regional facil­ity in which costs could be shared and con­di­tions improved. Offi­cials at the CCNO say if Toledo and Lucas County quit, it will leave an 11 mil­lion dol­lar hole in the jail bud­get. Williams County has 55 beds at the CCNO for its use amount­ing to 8.6% of the total beds. Defi­ance has just over 9%. In con­trast, Toledo pays for 35% of the total and Lucas County’s share is 31%. The CCNO is won­der­ing pub­licly what sense it makes for Toledo to con­sider a hugely expen­sive new jail facil­ity when the cur­rent facil­ity is paid for.