On schedule and under budget is how officials described progress on the expansion of the Hays County Jail as they aim to complete the $54.5 million project by December.

The Hays County Jail was reaching capacity last year when officials struck a deal with Caldwell County to house prisoners in the Caldwell County Jail. That deal costs millions of dollars annually, according to the 2016 Public Safety Master Plan.

The jail is currently under construction and is moving into Phase II of the project. C...