The Lancaster County Board has decided to delay until January a bond sale to finance the new county jail.

Commissioners made the decision Thursday after hearing an update on the bond market from Scott Keene with Ameritas Investments Corp., which is handling the financing to pay for the $65 million jail.

Last month, the board and Keene were optimistic for a bond sale in December. But Keene told commissioners he has not seen a dramatic improvement in the competitive bond market.

He said some municipal bonds have been sold in the past two weeks but none above $44 million. He’s also seen some bond sales postponed.

Bond market conditions should improve in January, Keene said, because of pent-up demand.

“We are getting some good activity … but yields are higher,” he added.

Meanwhile, the county board will seek resolutions from the City Council and the joint public agency, the group overseeing the jail project, to go ahead with the bond issue.

“My personal feeling is let’s not get in a hurry on this thing,” said Commissioner Larry Hudkins. “Let this thing (the bond market) settle out.”