A special election has been called for Tuesday, Dec. 1, for all Chautauqua County residents to decide whether to approve a one-cent sales tax which would fund the building of a new jail and law enforcement center in Sedan.
A legal notice is published elsewhere in today’s Prairie Star outlining details of the election.
Sheriff Perry Russell said the current jail was closed on March 2 of this year by the state fire marshal, forcing the sheriff to transport prisoners to Elk and Montgomery counties for incarceration.
“I don’t think most people realize how expensive this has become,” said Russell. “It requires more deputies on duty anytime we move prisoners to Howard or Independence, plus there are the transportation costs and the daily cost of housing the prisoners which is thirty-five dollars a day.”
The special question on the Dec. 1 ballot will be whether Chautauqua County residents will approve a new one-cent sales tax to build and equip the jail and law enforcement center.
The total amount financed would be $2.8 million requiring a yearly payment of $220,000 and the term of the tax would be 20 years, however Russell believes the project would pay out in 12 years. In the event the project is paid for, the sales tax will be dropped immediately.
The legal notice also describes an option in case sales tax revenues are insufficient to pay for the jail. In the event that sales tax revenues fall below 50 percent of projections, a 7.7 mill tax would be levied countywide on real estate and property taxes. Russell said he hopes that never happens, but the bond consultant required it to be on the question.
Russell said an ongoing feasibility study has begun to make sure the project can be funded with the one-cent countywide tax.
“Our expenses are so fluid,” said Russell. “We may have six in jail one week and twelve the next. The days of stay will vary. And sometimes we have to split up co-defendants, even taking them to different jails in the area. So it’s hard to get a true financial picture when these costs can’t be nailed down.”
Russell said the current one-cent sales tax in the county (which will stay in place regardless of the election outcome) last year raised $334,000. The planning committee for the new jail is using that figure as the basis for calculating what a new one-cent sales tax might generate.
“I know times are tough,” said Russell. “Nobody ever wants to build a jail. But in this case it makes good business to do so. Our old jail was built in the early 1920s and it has run the cycle.”
He said a sales tax is the fairest way to pay for new jail. “We need to keep this tax off the property owners if at all possible,” he said.
The proposed jail would be large enough to house 20 to 24 prisoners — large enough to house a few inmates from other counties, which would create additional revenue to pay for the new facility.
Members of the steering committee are: Commissioner Danny Williams, Mike Campbell of Cedar Vale, Janet Hartley of Peru, Tim Nordell of rural Sedan, Linda Robinette of Cedar Vale, Doug Siebuhr and Elroy Smith of rural Sedan, Judy Tolbert from the Sedan City Council, Jack Newcomb from the eastern part of the county and Sheriff Russell.
Voting places are outlined in the legal publication, as well as a summary of project costs.
