(August 3, 2009) San Diego, CA- Reason Foundation, a non partisan public policy organization that promotes choice, competition and a dynamic market economy, has announced its opposition to the County of San Diego’s proposal to expand the Las Colinas Detention Facility (LCDF) at its existing location.

Concerned about irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars, Reason Foundation encourages the County to instead build the new jail on less valuable County-owned land, preserving the Santee land as a substantial future income stream.

"Tripling the size of the Las Colinas Detention Facility in the heart of the City of Santee's urban core is incompatible with the city's current and future makeup and growth,” said Adam Summers, a Reason Foundation policy analyst who recently commented on this issue at Reason.org.   “Given the value of the land Las Colinas sits on in the downtown Santee area, and the loss in property values and development opportunities that would result from its expansion at the current site, the County of San Diego would better serve residents of Santee and taxpayers across the county by selling the land for more appropriate uses and then using the proceeds to develop an upgraded facility on one of the many more suitable parcels of land that the County owns."

“Reason Foundation shares our belief that using one of the most valuable parcels of land the County owns for a jail makes no sense, and we are pleased that they have joined with us in encouraging the County to make the best, most fiscally responsible long-term decision,” said Santee Mayor Randy Voepel. “A jail generates no revenue, but if the land is used for a commercial use it will generate sales income, tax revenue and possibly money to fund the jail construction.”

An independent 2007 study found the land in question to be worth more than $89 million if sold to private developers. The study also found that building a larger jail in Santee’s Town Center area could devalue surrounding land, including County land, by up to $75 million. Expanding Las Colinas at its current location would therefore have nearly $165 million of negative fiscal impact. The study also found that several other County-owned land sites were more suitable for the prison. 

Reason Foundation joins the City of Santee, the Santee School District, the Santee Chamber of Commerce, the East County Chamber of Commerce and the East County Association of Realtors in their opposition to the County’s plan to rebuild Las Colinas at its current location.

About Reason Foundation

Founded in 1968, Reason Foundation is a nonprofit organization advancing "free minds and free markets." Reason Foundation's nonpartisan public policy research promotes choice, competition and a dynamic market economy as the foundation for human dignity and progress.

About Santee

The City of Santee was incorporated in December 1980. With a population of over 55,000 and located in eastern San Diego County, Santee is the eleventh largest of San Diego County's 18 cities. For additional information and updates, please visit http://www.ci.santee.ca.us/

About Las Colinas

Las Colinas Detention Facility was originally built in Santee in the 1960s as a juvenile detention facility. In 1977, the facility was converted to an all-women’s jail and currently houses 675 inmates on an average daily basis.

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