Howard County Jail & Sheriff's Office Dispatch Expansion in Big Spring, TX

Howard County completed a $2,500,000 expansion of its Sheriff's Office and jail at 3611 W. Highway 80 in Big Spring. The project added 4,284 square feet to the existing structure, representing a construction cost of $584 per square foot. This addition was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in April 2025 under the name Howard County Jail & Sheriff's Office Dispatch Expansion.

Burns Architecture, LLC served as the design firm of record for this public works project. The scope involved adding square footage to the current facility to support dispatch and detention operations. Because the project utilized public funds and public land, it required accessibility review under state regulations. Jeffery L Kelley was the registered accessibility specialist associated with the filing.

Construction Timeline and Status

Plan review concluded in April 2025, the same month the project was registered with TDLR. Construction began in June 2025, with a scheduled completion date of June 2026. The final inspection was passed in May 2026. TDLR closed the project file in October 2026, which marks the end of the accessibility review process for this construction. The status is officially listed as Project Closed.

This expansion fits within a broader pattern of facility upgrades in Upton County and the surrounding region. Howard County has another TDLR-registered project, the Howard County Library in Big Spring, with a value of $927,500. Burns Architecture, LLC has six other registered projects totaling $7,900,000, including jail upgrades in Reeves and Runnels counties and housing expansions in Big Spring. These projects reflect a sustained investment in public infrastructure and public safety facilities across West Texas.

The Big Spring area, ZIP code 79720, has a population of about 30,432 according to U.S. Census ACS 2023 five-year estimates. The median household income is $71,194, and the median owner-occupied home value is $146,500. The housing stock is mostly owner-occupied, with 13,309 housing units. Upton County’s unemployment rate was 2 percent in July 2026, according to FRED data. These economic indicators provide context for the public works investment in the region.