Jail tax issue placed on August ballot

Tuesday, the last day state law allowed such proposals to be certified, Vernon County Commissioners placed a proposed half-cent sales tax on the ballot for the August 5 election. The proposed tax would finance a new public safety center and at least partially fund enhanced 911 service. In 15 years, or sooner if paid off earlier, the tax would reduce to three-eighths of a cent. Presiding Commissioner Charlie Johnson said the commission will have public meetings throughout the county to educate voters on the need for a new jail facility. The architect, Jim Lichty, from Archetype Design Group, will be available to help answer voters questions. "We as a commission can't spend county funds to promote this tax but we can educate voters on the need for a new jail. From our perspective we know what a liability the present jail is to us. Something should have been done about the situation decades ago." The present jail has been in use since the 1960's when it was converted from a post office to its present form. The jail is built to house 26 inmates at most but frequently houses more. In some cases inmates can be housed at other facilities, but not always.