Amid Pushback from Sheriff and Some Citizens Questioning the Costs, Fulton County Advances $1.2 Billion Jail Plan

Fulton County commissioners recently voted to move forward with a $1.2 billion overhaul of the county jail — a plan aimed at addressing overcrowding and unsafe conditions but one that has sparked pushback from critics, including Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat, who argues the county should build an entirely new facility.

At the Aug. 20 meeting, commissioners voted 4-1 to authorize planning for renovations at the Rice Street jail and construction of a new facility intended to serve “vulnerable populations and offset the future need for outsourcing of inmates to out-of-county facilities.” Commissioner Mo Ivory cast the lone “no” vote, while Commissioner Dana Barrett abstained.

Ivory said she opposed the measure because the county has yet to lay out a concrete funding plan. She noted that just last year, commissioners discussed a $300 million jail replacement — a fraction of the current $1.2 billion estimate. “This is what I’ve seen that this county does,” Ivory said. “We do these fake numbers, and we say, ‘let’s move forward based on these fake numbers,’ and then deal with the crisis when the crisis comes — which is why we’re in the crisis that we’re in right now.”

Barrett echoed concerns about the project’s financial feasibility, calling the proposal “fiscally irresponsible.”

County staff stressed that the vote was not final approval of a construction plan but a step to begin refining details, such as square footage, operational needs, cost estimates, and timelines.

Public Skepticism

During public comments, several community members said they agreed the jail’s conditions are dire but expressed doubts that renovating the current facility is the right path. One commentor said the proposal leaves too many unanswered questions. Another said, “There are many questions that are left unanswered by the information that has been provided and made public to this point.” Others raised concerns about outsourcing costs and whether the sheriff’s office would adequately document and categorize inmates with mental health issues slated for the new facility.

Sheriff’s Push for Replacement

A day after the vote, Sheriff Labat issued a sharp statement blasting the commissioners’ decision. He argued the Rice Street jail cannot be salvaged and should be replaced entirely.

Labat likened the plan to “being in a burning building and voting to design a new fire station that will not open for five years.”

Opened in 1989, the jail was designed for single bunking but has long housed two inmates per cell, leading to chronic overcrowding. Labat listed a range of infrastructure failures — from flooding and burst pipes to faulty locks and outdated ventilation — that he said make the facility unsafe for both inmates and staff.

“The (board’s) failure to act continues to put Fulton County taxpayers at risk of spending billions of dollars on lawsuits, higher construction costs, and higher taxes,” Labat said. “They were wrong to turn a blind eye to the need for a new jail facility.”

Supporters Cite Fiscal Responsibility

Commissioner Bob Ellis, who voted in favor of the plan, said moving ahead with detailed planning is the most responsible way forward.

“I think this is a very fiscally responsible approach that puts us in a position to hopefully hold the millage rate flat, while also not so financially exhausting us that we’re not going to have the ability to do the other things we desire to do,” Ellis said, pointing to other county priorities such as new senior facilities and a new hospital in South Fulton.

Next Steps

County staff said the next phase will involve refining design requirements, estimating capital and operating costs, and developing a schedule. They also plan to meet with the sheriff’s office, justice system stakeholders, and community groups before finalizing a proposal.

For now, the board’s decision keeps alive a costly and contentious debate over how best to address one of Georgia’s most troubled jail facilities.