Greensburg, In. — Decatur County Council members will be voting on an ordinance that would institute a special use income tax by as much as .65 percent to fund a future jail-related project. A .65 percent increase would cost a person earning $50,000 per year about $300. The tax would go into to effect on January 1, 2018.
Once the jail is complete the tax could be repealed or held in place for operating expenses.
Commissioners agreed to move forward with a new jail in June and requested funding options from county council. Sheriff Greg Allen, prosecutor Nathan Harter and other officials have also endorsed the need to replace the overcrowded 40-year-old facility.
Commissioners have listened to opinions of many local residents along the way.
The jail has capacity of about 65 inmates but routinely holds more than 100. A feasibility study conducted earlier this year determined Decatur County would need a 230 bed facility to meet the needs over the next 20 years.
Estimates say a new jail could cost as much as $25 million and take up to 2 ½ years to complete.
The next Decatur County council meeting will be Tuesday, August 22 at 9 a.m.
