SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - A county youth detention center in northern New Mexico is scheduled to close after commissioners raised concerns about rising costs and a decrease in the detention population.
The Santa Fe County Commission voted Tuesday to approve the closure following previous discussions about the center and house juvenile inmates at the San Juan County facility near Farmington for $225 an inmate each day.
There are only four juvenile inmates currently housed in the facility, including three from Santa Fe County and one from Rio Arriba County, Santa Fe County spokeswoman Carmelina Hart said.
The closure is expected to save the county about $1.7 million each year, which could offset expected losses in revenue in the coming months amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The juvenile detention center is now expected to house adult inmates who are being isolated or quarantined for COVID-19, county officials said.
So far, 12 adult inmates were tested for the disease and all came back negative, County Manager Katherine Miller said.
A layoff plan was negotiated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union representing the 11 employees who will be affected by the closure, county officials said.
“Everyone who wants to continue working for the county will have the opportunity to do so, though it may not be in their first job choice and may be at a lower initial salary,” Miller said.
The union opposes the closure of the facility because of the uncertainty it creates for employees, union representative Sam Chavez said.
“They have great concerns about what’s going to happen with their livelihoods going forward,” he said.
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