Walsh County Commission votes 3-2 to uses sales tax to build new $25 million jail

GRAFTON, N.D. (KVRR/KFGO) — Walsh County Sheriff Ron Jurgens says the county will use the sales tax that passed during a special election in May for a new jail.

Voters approved a three quarter percent sales tax but rejected a 20 mill property tax increase.

Both needed to pass for the project to move forward, but Walsh County Commission voted 3-to-2 to approve using the sales tax to help pay for the new building.

Jurgens says it is a scaled-down version of the original plan, but they will still be able to build a 46-bed jail at a cost of approximately $25 million.

They currently use just 16 cells due to dozens of problems with the 50-year-old building.

Construction is scheduled to begin next year.