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Chair urges board to consider broadening public-safety sales tax use when jail bonds expire
Summary
The board chair suggested the county consider reappropriating excess revenue from the public-safety sales tax (now dedicated to jail bonds) to other capital needs after bonds expire, noting the county currently collects roughly $2.48 million and pays about $1.9 million in bond expenses.
During the executive-committee report, the county chairman urged board members to consider future flexibility for the county’s public-safety sales tax, which was restricted for jail-bond payments when it was adopted.
The chairman said the county currently collects about $2,480,000 a year from the sales-tax designation and is paying approximately $1,900,000 in bond-related expenses, leaving roughly $580,000 in reserve. He suggested the board examine legal mechanisms to allow the tax revenue to support broader public-safety capital needs (ambulance buildings, 9‑1‑1 equipment) as bonds come off the schedule, noting such a change might require voter approval in some cases.
He framed the suggestion as an early notice to colleagues for long-term planning; the board did not take formal action at the meeting.
