Jail Tax

Jail tax in the works

By Cliff Sain
BDN Staff Writer
The Taney County Commission agreed Monday to ask voters to approve an eighth-cent sales tax in November to help with operating costs of a new jail.

According to Taney County Presiding Commissioner Chuck Pennel, the commission decided to hire an attorney to draft the ballot language. He said it's necessary for the county to be able to operate the jail, which will be part of a new judicial facility that will be under construction early next year.

He said the county could likely pay the $25 million price tag of the facility, but not day-to-day operations.

"We figured it will take $1 million additional income annually," Pennel said.

The judicial facility will be located downtown near the current courthouse and jail.

The new jail will have 238 beds. Pennel said if it opened today, Taney County could fill approximately 120 to 130 of them. Currently, the county pays to house many of its prisoners in other counties.

Ballot issues for November need to be registered with the county clerk by Aug. 23. If the commission misses that date, its next opportunity to place the jail tax on the ballot would be in February. Pennel said he did not want to wait that long because the commission plans to award a construction contract in January or February.

If the tax makes it on the November ballot, it will share the ballot in much of Taney County with a one-cent tourism tax. Pennel attended a meeting of the Branson/Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District's board of directors to inform them himself Monday of the county's jail tax plans.

"I know it's not what you guys want to hear," Pennel said. "It's a necessity. We need a jail."

The tourism tax would affect a district that primarily includes Branson and State Park Marina in Taney County. It also includes Indian Point Village and Silver Dollar City in Stone County. Only residents within the district can vote on it. If approved, it will raise an additional $6 million a year to promote tourism.

Pennel told the tourism tax board the commission is considering placing yet another issue on the November ballot to establish zoning codes for the county. Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ross Summers insisted the county at least hold off on that issue.

"You'll bring out every naysayer in the county," Summers said. "You'll kill both issues."