Expansion Planned for Santa Maria Jail

A facility reclassification of the Santa Maria branch jail will bring nine more beds to the facility, as well as allow the substation to house inmates for more than four days. The minor change is a start to eliminating the jail overcrowding problem currently plaguing the county. Construction will cost $25,000 and be completed in a matter of weeks. Annual upkeep will cause an increase in costs of more than $26,000 a year.