Undeterred by voters’ rejection of a tax to pay for a new jail, the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors has begun the process to build the facility by soliciting applications for planning and managing the project.

The Board of Supervisors at its March 2 meeting approved a request for qualifications for a consultant to “initiate the design and construction process to construct a potential new jail facility in Prescott,” according to a county document.

The sales tax increase rejected by voters would have paid for building a new 300-bed jail in Prescott to be used in conjunction with the now-full jail in Camp Verde. County officials warned that the construction of a $26 million jail would require big county budget cuts without the increase, because state law limits property tax increases.

Despite an extensive lobbying campaign by county officials, Yavapai voters in November said no to increasing the jail sales tax from a quarter cent to a half cent over 20 years. The current quarter-cent tax expires in 2020.

Prior to the election, a county newsletter warned of a “significant increase” in the property tax if the measure failed.

District 3 Supervisor Chip Davis last week declined to put a number to that, but said an increase in property taxes would be “part of the solution” to pay for the jail.

To read the full story, see the Wednesday, March 11, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.