Plan would have to be voted on by Flint residents
The Flint City Jail has been closed since 2008.
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FLINT -- Some Flint city leaders are playing with the idea of re-opening the city jail, but the move would first have to be approved by voters.
It would require a one-point-seven-million dollar millage to pass, but residents already turned back a similar proposal earlier this year.
The 120 bed Flint jail used to be a 72-hour holding facility.
Its doors closed in 2008 because of budget problems.
That leaves the Genesee County jail with all the burden.
Only problem is overcrowding.
The jail has a holding capacity of 580, but head count goes over that many nights.
City councilman Sheldon Neeley says, "I believe that we do need a jail but the funding is the key."
Neely thinks the city jail operating cost can be raised without a millage.
"Yeah we need to go back and operate our own impound lot and using that funding to perform the actual jail activities that we need in this community," said Neely.
Back in May, most Flint residents agreed.
They voted against a two million dollar millage that would have reopened the jail.
But now some city leaders are looking at placing another jail millage on the ballot in February 2012.
The average homeowner in Flint would pay at least an extra 40 dollars a year if the millage passes.
Resident Sharon Moore is against it saying, "No, I don't think we need it we already have a jail, that's enough right there."
Resident Mitchell Thomas is willing to pay the extra tax saying, " Yes, yes. In order for them to house these criminals."
The city council will debate the issue later this month.
Councilman Neeley says voters have already spoken saying, "We ought to honor the peoples wishes and quite putting these things back on the ballot. "
