Rice County Looks to Sales Tax to Pay for Public Safety Center

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The Rice County Board of Commissioners agreed to seek legislative approval in order to ask voters to consider approving a countywide sales tax this November that would pay for the new Public Safety Center.  

The Board of Commissioners approved construction of the new $48 million safety center last spring. The proposed tax, set at .375% would allow the county to repay the bonds sooner than their established 30-year time frame.  

If approved, the tax would apply to sales throughout Rice County, excluding food and clothing, prescription drugs, and motor vehicles. Proceeds from the tax would only be used to repay bonds for the project, and a sunset date is set for the tax once those bonds are repaid. 

The revenue source is proposed as a sales tax because the facility, which will house the county jail and offices for Rice County Sheriff’s personnel, will benefit a larger region. County Administrator Sarah Folsted and Rice County Chief Financial Officer Paula O’Connell recommended spreading the expense to those living outside of Rice County but spend money here.  

County officials have already spoken to local legislators who have agreed to support the request. If approved by the Legislature, the question will be included on the November 6th ballot.  

The Public Safety Center will include a 76-bed jail and offices for the Rice County Sheriff’s Department. The new facility is needed to continue to house inmates locally and came about after the Minnesota Department of Corrections downgraded the current jail, which doesn’t meet its standards for recreation and programming space. 

Groundbreaking for the safety center is anticipated later this year.