THE HALF-CENT SALES TAX APPROVED BY COUNTY VOTERS IN 2006 TO FUND BOND PAYMENTS FOR THE ANDERSON COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER, WILL BE PAID OFF TWO YEARS EARLY, THANKS TO BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED SALES TAX YIELDS AS WELL AS REVENUES FROM HOUSING OUT-OF-COUNTY INMATES. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED THE EARLY PAYOFF PLAN IN SEPTEMBER, AFTER JAIL REVENUES AMASSING IN A COUNTY JAIL RESERVE FUND AS WELL AS EXISTING FUNDS ACCRUED FROM THE SALES TAX FINALLY TIPPED THE SCALE AGAINST THE REMAINING BALANCE OWED – ABOUT $1 MILLION. THE ORIGINAL PAYOFF WAS PROJECTED IN 2025.
COUNTY COUNSELOR, JAMES CAMPBELL, SAYS THOUGH THE BONDS CAN’T ACTUALLY BE PAID UNTIL NEXT AUGUST, THE FACT THAT THE FINAL FUNDS ARE ALREADY IN THE BANK MEANS THE COUNTY’S ½ CENT SALES TAX WILL BE NO MORE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2023. THE EARLY PAY-OFF OF THE JAIL COMES AS A NUMBER OF NEARBY COUNTIES ARE OPENING OR PLANNING CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR OWN NEW JAIL FACILITIES.
