BUCYRUS — In 1994, voters across Crawford County approved a .5-percent sales tax to fund the construction of a new jail. That levy is ending soon, and Crawford County Sheriff Scott Kent is asking voters to approve a new .5 percent sales tax to replace it.
“This would not be a new sales tax since we have already been paying it for 25 years,” Kent said. “The nice part of a sales tax is that everyone pays it, even visitors and people passing through the county when they make a purchase.”
The $4 million construction loan will be paid off in December.
“The payment we made last year was around $380,000. The last payment on the loan is due in December and the sales tax levy ends in June,” Kent said. “We are asking to continue that sales tax to fund the maintenance and operations of the jail.”
During a recent tour, Kent pointed out several issues that need dealt with such as leaking areas of the roof of the building, pot holes in the parking lot and flooring needing repaired or replaced.
“We need to continue the revenue that is received from the .5-percent sales tax to be able to make the much-needed repairs. We need the income for the maintenance of the jail,” Kent said.
Kent said the sales tax generates more than $1 million each year.
“This will not be a new sales tax. It is a replacement of the current one,” Kent said.
Kent said the jail houses all people arrested in Crawford County.
“That includes the Galion Police Department, Bucyrus, New Washington, Crestline and the State Patrol,” Kent said.
The jail is almost always filled to capacity.
“We do keep a few beds open for other counties that we contract with to house their inmates,” Kent said. “We recently contracted with Meigs County. They were taking inmates all the way to Toledo for housing and they are located down by the Ohio River. Bucyrus will be much closer for them than Toledo.”
Kent said he is frugal when it comes to repairs and replacements.
“If something is older but not broken beyond repair, I do not replace it,” he said.
Kent said if the jail would have to be closed, it would cost taxpayers more money than supporting their own jail.
“It costs us $62 per day to house an inmate,” Kent said. “If we have to contract with another jail to house our inmates, it will cost around $81 per day.”
Kent said it is imperative for the sales tax levy to pass to keep the jail fully functional and safe for prisoners and employees.
“The sales tax brought in $1.4 million to the jail fund last year. We cannot afford to lose that amount of money and still operate the jail efficiently,” Kent said.
Voters will make the decision whether to pass the levy during the primary/special election on May 7.