Officials prefer sales tax to fed takeover for jail
Filed by Gail Banzet in Business, Local News, News.
December 21, 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma County officials say passing a sales tax for upgrades to the county jail is preferable to a possible federal takeover of the jail.
The U.S. Justice Department removed some inmates last year after determining conditions were substandard. And federal officials have threatened to take over the jail if improvements aren’t made soon.
County Treasurer Butch Freeman says if federal officials take over the jail and make the upgrades it could cost homeowners an additional $200 a year for three years to pay for the improvements.
County Commissioner Ray Vaughn says he prefers a sales tax that would be paid in part by people who visit the county. Vaughn says he would like to have a special election in May on a tax for the jail.
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Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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