Taxpayers can weigh in on jail plan

Warren County hopes to increase sales tax to raise $50 million.

Warren County commissioners are scheduled Tuesday to hear from taxpayers about their plans to increase the county sales tax by 0.25 percent to pay for a $50 million jail.

The first of two public hearings is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., as the commissioners continue to weigh which architects to hire to design the project.

“We’re actually raising taxes just to do this,” Commissioner Dave Young said on June 23 after three firms vying for the jail design contract were interviewed.

Sheriff Larry Sims responded, “I’ve got your back, for whatever that’s worth.”

Earlier in June, the commissioners voted unanimously to move toward raising the sales tax from 6.75 percent to 7 percent for up to five years.

The tax is expected to raise $10 million a year to offset the cost of financing the project.

A referendum effort could be mounted.

The commissioners scheduled Tuesday’s public hearing and one at 9 a.m. on July 18 to hear public input on their plans.

A jail study projected the cost at $56 million, not including costs to borrow money for the project.

Plans are to begin construction in 2018 and move into the new facility, to be built behind the current facilities, in 2020.

The jail capacity would be increased from 280 to 468 inmates.

The commissioners opted to move forward on the sales tax, rather than a property tax, in part because the majority of sales tax is paid by people who live outside the county, rather than local residents.

Also, the county is considering seeking a property tax levy to fund children’s services.

On June 23, the commissioners interviewed three firms, including K2M Design, which did the needs assessment recommending construction of a new jail, rather than renovation of the existing one.