Garvin County Commissioners approved a resolution Monday calling for an August 27 special election to allow county voters to decide a one-cent county sales tax proposition that would help fund a new Garvin County Detention Center.
If approved by voters, the one-percent sales tax would increase the county sales tax rate to 1.75 percent.
County Commissioners and Garvin County Sheriff Jim Mullett have been working since early last year on how to best approach building a new county detention center to replace the 1970sera county jail located in the courthouse annex. The new facility would more than double the current bedspace and provide a desperately needed modernization of the detention center, improving safety for both inmates and jail staff.
According to language included in the resolution approved during Monday’s regular meeting, the proposed sales tax would be used for “the acquisition, construction, operations, and/or maintenance of a new Garvin County Detention Center, and/or the payment of debt service in connection with obligations related to the detention center.”
Mullett has said previously that revenue generated from detention contracts for housing inmates from other agencies, including Lighthorse, ICE, federal partners, other counties and local municipalities, could be used to provide operating costs and debt repayment for the proposed facility.
During Monday’s meeting, Jacob Bachelor, the bond attorney hired by commissioners in April to handle the ballot language and bond sale for the county, said both revenue streams – a sales tax and the income from detention contracts – will likely be needed to bring the project to fruition.
“I really think it needs to be put out to the people,” Commissioner Gary Ayres said about the proposed election after Monday’s meeting.
Ayres said the board is united in its support for a new detention facility.
“We’re all three in agreement about the need for a new jail,” Ayres said.
County officials have also identified a preferred site for the proposed jail.
Sheriff Jim Mullett said the county would like to build the facility on a 10-acre tract of land west of the Pauls Valley water treatment plant, just off of Highway 77, in Pauls Valley. The land is currently owned by the city.
Mullett addressed the Pauls Valley City Council during their regular meeting May 14 to discuss the proposed facility and the possibility of acquiring the property.
During their regular meeting May 28, Pauls Valley Councilmembers approved a letter of support for the county jail project, which included a declaration of their intention to sell or donate land for its construction.