County voters approve law enforcement sales tax

Voters Tuesday approved a one-half cent law enforcement sales tax proceeds of which will be used to replace this outmoded, outdated county jail building.

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Voters Tuesday gave overwhelming support to a one-half cent sales tax for the new complex and law enforcement purposes.

The vote was 909 yes to 679 no.

"I am well pleased with the fact the tax passed," Sheriff Bob Holder said Tuesday. "It shows the people of Dunklin County still have progress at heart and are willing to help make the community a better place."

He added, "Anytime a community grows, unfortunately crime also grows. We're taking steps to deal with the crime situation in the future."

The turnout in Tuesday's special election was light, with only 1,588 of the county's 23,788 registered voters making the trip to the polls. That's a turnout of 7 percent. The measure carried in 11 of the county's 29 voting precincts and absentee balloting. The heaviest support was in Kennett where it carried in all five wards. It also carried in Independence Township, Holcomb, Hornersville, Senath, Rives Rural and Ward 3 in Malden.

County officials had said a new jail was needed because the present facility, which was built in 1975, is too small, outdated and is costly to maintain. It also does not meet current jail standards.

With the approval of the tax by voters, the county will use the revenue to buy the UARCO building and renovate it for use as a county jail and judicial complex. In addition to the sheriff's office and jail, it would house the prosecuting attorney's office, Division II Circuit Court offices, a courtroom facility as well as several other offices. Only about one-half of the 114,000 square feet of space in the UARCO building would be needed for the jail-judicial complex which would allow for any future expansion. Holder said the county will also look into renting or leasing the unused portion of the building to generate additional revenue.

The overall cost of the project is estimated at $7.5 million.

Holder said with the jail and courtroom housed in the same building, moving prisoners to and from court will be much safer. At present, a guard walks the prisoners from the county jail on Slicer Street several block to the courthouse on the city square.

While the present county jail was designed for a capacity of 52 inmates, its population now averages around 77 inmates daily, and has been as high as 108.

The proposed new jail facility would have a maximum capacity of 170 inmates, who would be housed in two-person cells. The new jail would be able to house both male and female inmates in separate areas.

The sales tax is expected to generate approximately $1,123,00 a year, which officials say will be more than enough for repayment of principal and interest for the project over a 20 year period. The annual payments are estimated at $555,000. Money in excess of what is needed to develop the complex will be used for jail operation and other law enforcement purposes, including funds for the county juvenile office.

The Dunklin County Commission had agreed that if voters approved the sales tax, it would act to reduce the county's 10-cents per $100 assessed valuation personal property tax to zero. This would be a $242,873.93 saving to taxpayers each year. Replacing the revenue lost by eliminating the county's part of the property tax would still leave the county with approximately $880,126 from the sales tax revenue.