On November 3rd, Chesterfield County citizens will decide whether to fund a $50 million bond to build a new jail through a 1% sales tax increase. If the voters decide not to do this, the jail will be funded with a property tax increase. The question that everyone should be asking is, “Why $50 million, and how was this number determined?”
The normal process for a governmental entity to determine what a capital project will cost is to put out a “Request for quotation” to various industry publications and websites. This request is simple: here is what we need, what your qualifications are, and how much you would charge to complete the project. Companies that submit a quote with that information by a specific date, much like a sealed bid, frequently use these sites. When the deadline came, the bids would be opened, and the firm that could meet the project’s conditions and submit the LOWEST PRICE would be selected. The question that the citizens of Chesterfield County should ask is, “Was this process followed by the County Council?” Guess what, it wasn’t.
This is the description of the request for bid that was published. Please note two items: the $50 million budget, and the submission date of November 4th, the day AFTER the vote:
Chesterfield County, SC – Architectural/Engineering Services for Construction of a New Detention Facility – 04-2627 (2026)
Chesterfield County, Chesterfield County, SC·County
29 days until submission deadline — November 4, 2026
SUMMARY
Chesterfield County is soliciting Statements of Qualifications for full-service architectural and engineering jail design services to construct a new detention facility. The facility will have an initial capacity of approximately 250 beds with a 330-bed core through year 2050, replacing an aging 126-bed jail. The new facility will be built on a 14-acre parcel located within Chesterfield Commerce Park on Parkway Drive, Chesterfield, South Carolina, with an estimated budget of $50 million. Required scopes include siting, design, preparation of construction bid documents, CMAR delivery coordination, ADA compliance, and construction oversight. Submissions are due by 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, with a question deadline of October 28, 2026.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Firm’s overall experience and qualifications (30 points), Ability and experience of proposed key personnel (30 points), Workload and ability to meet schedules (20 points), Design approach (10 points), Ability to provide responsive service to the County for project team meetings and site visits as required (10 points)
As you can see, Council is asking for the design of a 250-bed facility with an expansion to 330 beds by the year 2050. If we do a little math and use the 330-bed capacity for the jail, we find that each bed would cost $151,000.00! Are you kidding me? That is the price for a nice 2-bedroom, 2-bath house! Now, to be fair, since Council doesn’t buy a new jail every year, we have to look at the data they might have used to estimate this cost.
While searching the internet, I found an interesting site that gives you costs to build a jail. Here is what they say:
Cost of Building a Jail: Price Guide for U.S. Projects 2026
Constructing a jail involves substantial capital, with price drivers including site size, cell design, security systems, and local permitting. This guide summarizes typical cost ranges in USD and highlights the main factors that influence pricing, so buyers can develop realistic budgets. The following sections present a practical breakdown, per-unit estimates where relevant, and real-world pricing examples.
Assumptions: region, security level, inmate capacity, and site conditions vary; figures reflect mid-range public safety facilities.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
| Total Project Range | $80,000,000 | $125,000,000 | $250,000,000 | Sizes from small detention centers to mid-scale county jails; higher costs with larger populations. |
| Per-Unit Range (per bed) | $300,000 | $420,000 | $650,000 | Includes construction and basic fit-out; higher for specialized cells. |
I guess the council must have found the same site as I have. Based on this, the cost per bed is $300,000.00. That must be one hell of a bed! In fact, maybe council underestimated the price of the jail. According to these figures, the jail should cost about $100,000,000.00! After looking at these figures, I was astounded by the cost. $300,000.00 per inmate to give them a bed and basic daily needs like a toilet, bed, shower, etc. So I thought it might be good to compare these prices to what it would cost to build a hotel. I know a hotel has a lot more features than a jail cell, but I figured it might be fun to see the difference. Using the same website that I found the cost of constructing a jail on, I learned this:
Hotel Construction Cost Guide 2026
Prices for building a hotel in the United States vary widely, driven by project scope, location, and finishes. This guide focuses on the cost picture, including typical price ranges, key drivers, and practical budgeting tips to help stakeholders estimate a realistic project budget. The figures below reflect common market conditions and assume a new-build, mid-market to upper-mid-range property with standard guest rooms.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
| Total Project Cost | $20,000,000 | $60,000,000 | $250,000,000 | Assumes scale from 80–300 rooms, standard to upscale finishes, regional variations apply. |
| Cost Per Room | $120,000 | $350,000 | $1,000,000 | Includes core and shell, interior fit-out, furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E). |
| Cost Per Square Foot | $200 | $260 | $520 | Reflects land, structure, MEPs, and high-end finishes in urban markets. |
| Sitework & Exterior | $2,000,000 | $8,000,000 | $40,000,000 | Grading, drainage, parking, landscaping, and facade. |
| Permits & Fees | $150,000 | $1,500,000 | $6,000,000 | Includes impact fees, utility taps, plan checks, and approvals. |
Let’s compare a room in a jail to a room in a hotel.
A jail cell would normally house two inmates and have 2 beds, which I assume would be built into the walls or be bunk beds. It would include a simple toilet and sink, and maybe a desk and chair. I don’t believe there will be much else. Of course, some might be designed with more security, but I don’t think that would add much to a cell’s cost. The jail would also need a common shower area, a kitchen, and maybe a cafeteria for meals, unless inmates eat in their cells. A common area might be included for the inmates along with an outdoor activity area. The deputies would need an administrative area, bathroom, and other common office features. Of course, the landscaping would be pretty simple, with security fencing including razor wire. I may have missed a few features, but I don’t think any of them would be outlandishly expensive.
Now let’s break down those hotel costs.
A typical hotel room would feature a king-size bed or two queen beds. Most have a desk, internet access, a widescreen LCD TV, a mini refrigerator, nightstands, table lights, and a recliner or lounger chair with a hassock. The bathroom would have a toilet, one or two sinks, and a shower/bath combination. It would also include a hair dryer and an iron. The room would also include a closet. The hotel would also have a front desk and office. Most hotels also have pools, workout rooms, business suites, large parking lots, extensive landscaping, and other amenities for travelers.
Now my question is simple: “Taking the example of the low pricing for a hotel, how can it cost almost three times as much to build a jail?” “Even if we use the average cost for a hotel, how can a jail cost more than that hotel would cost?”
I believe there are two answers to these questions. The first is that our elected officials really don’t do their homework on projects like this. They will accept the “advice” of supposed experts or consultants. The second reason is that the companies that construct government buildings know our elected officials don’t research what things should cost, so they try to make as large a profit as possible.
Now is the time to face the crisis at hand; Chesterfield County needs a new jail, period. The old one is just not acceptable for the county’s needs. But we don’t need a palace for inmates; we need a facility that lets them live with dignity while providing a safe environment for our deputies to work in. Further, we need a clear determination of exactly what we want in a jail. One thing is simple: “How many beds?” A figure of 250, but maybe 330 in the future, is not acceptable. Right now, we need a jail that will hold 125 inmates. So why is the county projecting a need for 330 when doubling the facility capacity beyond what we have now should cover any projected needs for the foreseeable future?
At this point, I believe we have to vote in favor of the question on the sales tax increase for the jail. Unlike the council, I will be honest with you: there is no way a 1% increase in the sales tax in Chesterfield County will cover $50 million in 8 years. Let me explain.
To pay back a bond that size, the county would have to repay $6.25 million each year. To do that, the county would need $625 million in sales. Chesterfield County’s population is 44,000 men, women, and children. Each person, including children, would have to buy $14,205 each year in the county. For a family of four, that is $56,820 per year. The county’s average family income is $47,620. Therein lies the problem: Chesterfield County citizens will never generate that amount of sales tax countywide. Now we have been told by council that a large amount of the taxes will be collected from outsiders. Really? No one can ever call Chesterfield County a “shopper’s paradise.” The truth is, many county citizens spend their disposable income outside the county, where they can find a wider variety of products and services. In the end, a large portion of any bond issued will have to be paid back through an increase in property taxes. This is another reason the size of the indebtedness matters.
Based on the information I have provided, before the council obtains a bond and starts collecting sales tax, it must present the public with an exact amount for what the jail will cost. Every dollar that is not spent building a new jail is more money left in the pockets of the good people of Chesterfield County. With that said, if the amount they want to borrow is anywhere near $50 million, Chesterfield County citizens will have to look to replacing the entire council, since it will be obvious they are not concerned about protecting your pocketbook when it comes to taxes.
