The commissioners are asking that a half-cent sales tax for county roads be approved again, and that a half-cent tax for the county jail be continued.
Tabor said he hopes to have the sales tax election on Aug. 14.
Tabor said most of the original half-cent tax for the county jail was to cease when the jail was paid for, which was this month. The original tax was split two ways, with two-thirds of the half cent set aside for paying off the jail debt, and one-third set aside for jail operation and maintenance.
Your TIMES incorrectly reported the tax split in the Thursday, May 10, edition, and apologizes for any inconvenience this error may have caused.
Tabor said the commissioners hope voters will approve a new split of the half-cent sales tax for the jail.
"One third of the tax is permanent already, for jail maintenance and operation," Tabor said. "We would like to retain the half-cent tax, with one-third going to the sheriff's office and two-thirds going to the operation and maintenance of the jail."
Tabor said the one-third of the half-cent tax is not enough to pay for the jail's operation. In the past the commissioners reported the tax brought in about $25,000 a month.
Tabor said that if voters approve the tax, which would increase the amount available to operate the jail, then the county would not have to depend on housing state inmates for income. The state pays about $31 per day per state inmate to the county because of the lack of space in the state prison system.
If the tax is approved, Tabor said, "Then we could drop the 38 state prisoners we have in the jail now, and make more room for county prisoners."
