WINONA, Minn. –The Winona County Board voted unanimously to seek permission from the state Legislature to borrow money for a new jail. The proposed borrowing would raise $28 million over 25 years with a .25% hike in the county sales tax — from 2023 through 2046. The county sales tax currently is .5%. Although the increase would be 50%, the county share of the total 7.35% sales tax rate is barely noticeable. Almost all of sales tax collections goes to state government. Overall, the tax on sales in Winona County would go from 7.35% to 7.85%. The County Board had considered raising property taxes to pay for the jail, but the county’s revenue from property taxes is much less than from the sales taxes and would likely have stirred loud resistance.

Jacob. Rural constituency mostly north and west.

Ward. Rural constituency mostly south and west.

Other Board members: Marie Kovecsi, Winona; Chris Meyer, Winona; Greg Olson, Winona.

The cost of lollygagging

The County has little choice but to build a new jail. The state Corrections Department had found the current 1970s jail so inadequate that it threatened to decertify its use. The County Board, led by resistance from fiscal conservatives Marcia Ward of Dakota and Steve Jacob of Alma, lollygagged for years about spending money for a new jail. They even proposed going without a jail and sending inmates elsewhere for incarnation — an idea that proved penny wise and pound foolish. In the end, as state pressure mounted for a new jail, there was no choice. Meanwhile, the substandard jail continued in use and construction costs swelled. The good news: Borrowing is at historically low interest rates.