Wapello County voters will consider a $45 million Jail Expansion and Renovation Bond Referendum on November 3.
According to information provided by the Wapello County Board of Supervisors, the proposal would increase the total number of jail beds to 316. The project also includes renovations to the jail kitchen, laundry and other support areas, along with site modifications, a new roof and a new security system.
The county says inmate classification requirements, including gender, medical or mental health needs and the severity of charges, affect how the jail’s capacity is calculated. Under those requirements, a jail can have open beds but still be considered at full capacity.
The current Wapello County Jail has a maximum capacity of 148 inmates and a design capacity of 126. In 2025, the average daily inmate population was 137, with a peak population of 151.
The county reports that from June 2025 through May 2026, it spent $719,385 to house inmates in other counties because of capacity and inmate separation requirements. That figure does not include staff time, fuel or vehicle expenses associated with transporting inmates.
The information provided by the county also states that the inmate population has increased 57.6% since 2015. Recent changes to Iowa law, including changes involving habitual offenders and bail restrictions, could affect future jail populations, although the county says the impact is not yet known.
Proposed Tax Impact
The proposed bond would be repaid over 20 years.
The county provides an example of a home assessed at $100,000 with a net taxable value of $44,534.50. Under that example, the estimated property tax increase would be $99.76 per year, or about $8.31 per month.
The Wapello County Board of Supervisors says the information is being provided to explain the proposed project and its potential financial impact and is not intended to take a position on the referendum.
More information about the proposal, including project background, tax impact, voting information and frequently asked questions, is available at WapelloCountyJailBallotMeasure.com.
Questions may also be submitted through the website, to Wapello County Sheriff Phillips at 641-684-4350, or to a Wapello County Supervisor.
Source: Wapello County Board of Supervisors
