The Warren County Board is hiring a firm to finalize the necessary details to plan for a referendum which will include a public facilities tax in an effort to move forward with the construction of a new jail. Building and grounds committee Chair Sean Cavanaugh explains:
“A facilities tax, not a public safety tax. A public safety tax is a permanent lifetime tax unless you vote to undo it. A public facilities tax is also a sales tax that would exist only until the jail is paid off, for the length of the term. If you can pay it off early, that is great. Then it goes away. People say ‘gosh Sean, these sales taxes are really something around here’ and unfortunately in towns like this that is how we have to generate funds to get projects completed, but it would not be a permanent tax.”
The public is encouraged to learn more about the jail and are welcome to take a tour to see the facility in its current state.