To the citizens of Bates County: On August 2nd you are will be given
an option to extend a capital improvement sales tax. This sales tax
was originally passed in 2002 for the
construction of the Sheriffs Office and Jail. That sales tax is
scheduled to sunset in 2017. The County Commissioners have worked to
identify needs of all county owned buildings.
We are asking that you
VOTE YES to continue the sales tax for the purpose of maintaining and
repairing all county owned buildings with this tax. This sales tax is
NOT a new sales tax and will NOT raise your taxes but continue what is
already there.
Specifically what will this tax do for your Sheriffs Office? As
currently laid out the tax will begin to pay for needed upgrades and
continued maintenance cost to ALL county owned building not just the
Sheriffs Office. As the Sheriffs Office is a state of the art building
that is controlled by electronics on a 24 hour a day 365 days a year.
That means the building's moving parts, (doors, furnaces, hot water
heaters, air conditioners, alarm systems, door control systems, speaker,
etc) are constantly wearing out. As the building ages maintenance cost
will increase. (
The jail is now 13 years old) As electronic become
outdated they have to be replaced. As jail standards evolve our
building has to change and stay within those standards. All these items
are expensive.
The Commissioners have assured me that if this
tax passes then substantial maintence cost would be covered with this
tax along with needed repairs to other buildings like the courthouse. I
have worked with the Commissioners in identifying security concerns
with our courtroom and court procedures. Continuing this sales tax will
allow for many of those concerns to be addressed keeping staff and
citizens safer while conducting their business at the court house.
I am asking that you consider these things when voting for or against
CONTINUING the capital improvement tax. In 2002 the citizens trusted
our elected officials in building a new jail. Maintenance is the most
important part in keeping the building in the condition the citizens
expect. I am asking now that you help us to continue to maintain that
jail AND all county owned buildings by voting YES to continue the
capital improvement tax.
Thank you for your time please help spread the word by sharing this post
Bates County Sheriff Sheriff Chad Anderson
Comments from Larry Hackler:
VERY
IMPORTANT issues related to jail and court security are targeted within
this CONTINUED sales tax. With the changing times we are witnessing
currently, we must preserve the quality of our county facilities and
security is a major focus. Our current
jail was great vision by previous Bates County officials, has been run
professionally, and continues to be an important part of our county's
functions. With the need for continued upkeep, modernization, and
security equipment required to run it, we must have revenue to do the
job right ... this CONTINUED sales tax will allow that to be
accomplished.
To address additional uses of this
CONTINUED sales tax, there are immediate needs for major expenditures at
the actual courthouse. The entire lower half of the courthouse needs
tuck pointing and the walkways and grounds next to the courthouse needs
removed and raised to move water away from the building.
The
current courtrooms are inadequate for the load of cases handled, and
are high risk in respect to public safety and security. This must be
addressed.
The TWO MOST IMPORTANT parts of this ballot issue to consider is:
1.
That it is a "HALF CENT SALES TAX" that is about 40% funded by folks
outside Bates County who purchase something WITHIN Bates County.
2. It is NOT a new tax or an added burden over what we pay RIGHT NOW.
PLEASE
vote "YES" so we can continue to provide Bates County citizens the best
possible services possible and preserve our county assets properly and
prudently.
