When the jail district tax increase didn’t pass Nov. 4, it didn’t shock everyone.
“I wasn’t surprised just due to the economy nationwide,” Yavapai County District 3 Supervisor Chip Davis said.
On the Nov. 4 ballot, the county asked voters to approve a ¼ cent tax increase for jail district funding. The measure failed with 56.36 percent of voters saying no, while 43.64 percent said yes.
By Trista Steers
Larson Newspapers
When the jail district tax increase didn’t pass Nov. 4, it didn’t shock everyone.
“I wasn’t surprised just due to the economy nationwide,” Yavapai County District 3 Supervisor Chip Davis said.
On the Nov. 4 ballot, the county asked voters to approve a ¼ cent tax increase for jail district funding. The measure failed with 56.36 percent of voters saying no, while 43.64 percent said yes.
The county asked for the sales tax increase because the jail district was not financially self-sufficient and competes for the county’s General Fund tax dollars.
According to the county’s Web site, the jail district faces a $3.4 million deficit for fiscal year 2008-09.
To keep the jail out the red, Davis said the money will have to come from somewhere else.
The county taxes ½ cent to pay for regional roads, such as Cornville Road, and Davis said some of that money may have to go to the jails.
According to Davis, the money from the tax is currently split in two — 60 percent is set aside for renovation and overlay work on community connector roads and 40 percent is put into a capital project fund.
If the county decides to use money from the regional roads fund, Davis said it will likely be split in three — 30 percent in two funds and 40 percent in the other. Davis would like to see the larger fund used for the connector roads.
Allocating money from the road fund would allow the jail to continue to operate, but not solve all of its financial problems.
“That would keep us in operation,” Davis said. “It still wouldn’t be enough to start saving for a jail in the Prescott area.”
The situation forces the county to go to the next level of budget efficiency, which Davis said is his hope.
“We’ll survive,” Davis said, and hopefully learn a lesson.
The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors has not met since Election Day; therefore, no plan has been approved. The board meets next in Cottonwood on Monday, Nov. 17, at 11:30 a.m.
Trista Steers can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 124, or e-mail tsteers@larsonnewspapers.com
