Stearns County Releases More Information on Proposed Sales Tax for New Jail, Justice Center

(KNSI) – Stearns County is releasing more details on a proposed sales tax to pay for a new jail and justice center.

The board of commissioners authorized asking voters for up to $325 million to complete the project. Earlier this year, the Minnesota legislature approved the county’s use of a local option sales tax of 3/8 of a percent.

In a press release, Stearns County says voters can decide if they want the justice center to be funded through a sales tax or pay for construction through property taxes. The board of commissioners is making it clear the county needs to replace its aging buildings.

According to the county administration office, Minnesota officials continue to tell the county that it must build a new facility because the jail is operationally obsolete, overcapacity, inefficient, undersized, and does not allow special treatment and offender recovery.

The board’s action on Tuesday means the county can now put the question before the voters in November 2024. County officials claim around 50% of the money raised through a sales tax would come from non-Stearns County residents. Coincidentally, about half of the jail population are people who live outside the county.

The county is looking for an architectural team and a construction management firm to design a new facility. From there, a decision will be made on its location, building layout, services, and offices to be included. The county is looking at either keeping the center in downtown St. Cloud or moving it to a new location.

Once those decisions are made, the final cost can be calculated.

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