MENA — Polk County officials are moving forward with a sheriff's sales tax proposal to pay for a new jail.
The county's quorum court has approved Sheriff Mike Godfrey's plan to seek a 1 percent sales tax to build a 100-bed county jail.
The county will work with a planning and development organization to seek bids for builders to present to city officials for final approval.
Godfrey said a new jail is needed because the current facility no longer meets state requirements. He said it's likely the tax would not be ready for a vote in the November general election.
The Southwest Times Record reported that if the tax isn't ready then, the quorum court would have to decide to seek a special election or wait until next November.