CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Clayton County commissioners rejected a funding plan Tuesday evening to make improvements inside the Clayton County Jail.
On Monday night, Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen laid out his plan for a nearly $15 million project.
The issue at Tuesday's meeting was the amount of funding-- with commissioners not agreeing with the price tag of the proposed jail improvements. Both sides said they would compromise and return to the table.
Commissioners did not second the motion at Tuesday night's meeting to grant Allen's request for $14.5 million to improve conditions at the jail.
"We're not saying that we're not sympathetic to his needs because he is taking care of the citizens of Clayton County as it relates to public safety," Clayton County Commissioners Chair Jeffrey Turner said.
Turner said the price tag is why the request got the red light.
"His (Allen's) original request was $8.9 million, and then his amended request was for $14 million so that ballooned overnight," Turner added.
However, the sheriff said that's not true.
"I want to be clear. My ask was always for $14 million in the emails back and forth with the county and also in my work session. It was always $14 million. It was presented at $8 million and I told them I wanted my full ask to be there," Allen said.
Allen said he had asked for the money to fund things like more barbed wire on exterior fences to deter people from bringing in contraband, modular jail cells to help with overcrowding and fixes to interior windows and lights to stop inmates from being able to create shanks.
"He needs to come back, sit down with us again, and let's talk through some things in terms of what we can reduce or phase in," Turner said.
One compromise Allen is considering is to lease tasers for his deputies-- instead of buying them outright, which would save about $5.5 million.
"Whatever we do in negotiations, I'll do it. But just know, the person who makes the choices is going to have to answer to their citizens and their constituents about why it was made," Allen said.
The sheriff said at the Tuesday night meeting that the revised proposal would be discussed at the next meeting. Commissioners are set to meet again on the first Tuesday in November.