CANADIAN COUNTY SALES TAX ELECTION
NEW JAIL PROJECT
Q: WHY DOES THE COUNTY NEED A NEW JAIL?
A. The current jail was built in 1984 and has a capacity of 72 beds. Over the last three years, the existing facility has housed on average around 100 inmates per day with up to 130 on some days. Due to this limited capacity, many charged persons that belong in jail are not being arrested. A larger jail facility will enhance public safety throughout the County and protect local citizens.
A. The new jail will be located adjacent to the existing County Judicial Building on the north side. A walkway will be constructed to connect the new two-story building with the second floor of the existing one. Additional parking will also be included in the project plan. The Sheriff’s office and dispatch will remain in the existing building.
Q. WHAT WILL BE THE KEY FEATURES OF THE NEW JAIL?
A. The new facility will feature 132 cells capable of housing 288 inmates. The building will be approximately 76,000 square feet and contain a state-of-the-art security system to guard inmates. The new jail will also include a kitchen, laundry and a vehicle port to safely load and unload prisoners. The jail will be constructed to meet national and state correctional standards. In addition, the kitchen and laundry facilities will be sized to accommodate an expansion in the future, if needed.
Q. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
A. Based on a preliminary design and layout, a professional architect specializing in jail facilities in Oklahoma has estimated the construction cost at approximately $22.5 million. The actual cost will not be known until competitive bids are received for the construction.
Q. HOW WILL WE PAY FOR IT?
A. The County fully evaluated all legally available revenue sources to pay for the new jail construction and operations. Based on this evaluation, an additional sales tax was determined to be the best way to fund it.
Q. HOW MUCH WILL THE ADDITIONAL SALES TAX BE?
A. The additional sales tax proposed would be .35% or about 1/3 of a penny. This means that for every $100 dollars spent on taxable goods and services, people will pay an additional 35 cents. For a family of four spending $2,000 per month on taxable items, the tax impact would be around $7.00 per month or $.23 per day.
Q. HOW LONG WILL THE SALES TAX RUN?
A. County officials wanted to limit the amount and term of any additional sales tax as much as possible. The additional .35% sales tax would run 15 years to repay debt service on the financing proposed to fund the jail. Once the debt is repaid, the additional sales tax would then drop off to .25% for operation and maintenance of the new jail. The .25% would be a permanent sales tax to ensure adequate funds would be available to operate the jail in the future.
Q. DOESN’T CANADIAN COUNTY CURRENTLY LEVY A COUNTY SALES TAX?
A. Yes. Canadian County levies an existing .35% sales tax dedicated to the Juvenile Justice Facility. The additional .35% for the new jail will put the total County sales tax at .70% which is lower than most other counties in Oklahoma.
Q. WHY WASN’T AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES PROPOSED?
A. County Commissioners considered a property tax increase but determined such an approach was not in the best interest of County citizens for several reasons. Levying property taxes would place the entire burden of paying for constructing the jail on County residents and businesses. On the other hand, folks from outside the County will pay a portion of the additional sales tax when they shop and purchase items in Canadian County. In addition, an increase in sales tax would still be needed to operate and maintain the new jail.
Q. WHEN WOULD THE NEW JAIL OPEN?
A. County officials plan on starting construction in early 2009 with the jail scheduled for completion and ready for occupancy in early 2011.
Q. HOW LONG WILL THE NEW JAIL MEET THE COUNTY’S NEEDS?
A. The proposed facility will almost triple the number of inmates currently incarcerated in the existing jail. This additional space will enable the County to arrest and detain many more offenders deemed a significant threat to local residents. The new facility is being designed to accommodate an expansion which could add another 100 beds on existing property owned by the County.
Q. HOW WILL THE COUNTY FUND AN EXPANSION IN THE FUTURE?
A. Since revenues from the additional sales tax are earmarked only for a County jail and can be used for no other purpose, County officials intend to place any excess sales tax not needed for debt service and operations into a reserve account. These reserve funds would be available to help fund an expansion in the future when needed. At that point in time, County officials will fully evaluate their options and determine an appropriate course of action.
Q. WHEN IS THE SALES TAX ELECTION?
A. The election will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2008. If approved, the additional .35% sales tax would become effective on October 1, 2008, and automatically reduce to .25% after fifteen years.
Q. WHERE DO I VOTE?
A. You will vote at your normal voting precinct. To find out where to vote, please call the Canadian County Election Board at 422-2450. Only registered voters in Canadian County will be eligible to vote in the election.
Q. HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
A. To obtain more information, please call the County Commissioners office at 262-1070, ext. 6200 or the Canadian County Sheriff’s office at 422-3187.