Voters in Crawford County have approved a sales tax increase to pay for a new $20 million jail.
In Tuesday's election, voters approved a half-percent sales tax increase to pay for construction of the jail and a 0.25 percent increase to pay for operations and maintenance. The half-percent tax will expire in 2023, while the smaller tax will be permanent.
According to the Southwest Times Record, complete but unofficial results show the measures passed with 51 percent of the vote.
The current 88-bed jail in Van Buren has been on probation after failing multiple state inspections. The new tax will pay for a 270-bed facility on U.S. 64 about one mile east of Interstate 540. Officials say construction will begin in April 2015 with completion planned for 2017.