Jail SPLOST passes
by Winston Jones/Sentinel
10 months ago | 2005 views | 11 11 comments | 18 18 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Voters sign in Tuesday at the Old Courthouse precinct. (Photo by Winston Jones/Sentinel)
Voters sign in Tuesday at the Old Courthouse precinct. (Photo by Winston Jones/Sentinel)
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Douglas County voters, by a 32-vote margin, cast their ballots Tuesday to build a new jail.

With all 25 precincts reporting, the unofficial results showed 3,918 “Yes” votes, or 50.2 percent, to 3,886 “No” votes, or 49.8 percent, on the 1-cent special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) to build the jail. About 11.4 percent of 69,255 registered voters cast ballots.

“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude,” Sheriff Phil Miller said Tuesday night after the results were in. “It’s good for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, but it’s also good for the county.”

Voters in both the city of Douglasville and Douglas County soundly rejected the redevelopment powers referendums, often called TADs (tax allocation districts).

The Douglasville TAD tally was 1,147 “No” votes, or 63.6 percent, to 656 “Yes” votes, or 36.4 percent.

The county TAD vote was 5,365 “No” votes, or 70.8 percent, to 2,211 votes, or 29.2 percent.

Approval of the jail SPLOST gives the county authority to levy an additional one cent sales tax, raising the total sales tax charged in Douglas County to seven cents next April 1.

The tax revenue will be used solely to raise $150 million to build a new jail on county property near the courthouse. The “Yes” vote also approves a $120 million bond issue so that work can start immediately on the facility.

The term of the SPLOST is six years (24 calendar quarters) or until the $150 million is raised, whichever occurs first.

Backers of the SPLOST pointed out that the 26-year old county jail is severely overcrowded with four inmates in each 6-by-10-foot cell, originally built to house one inmate.

The county now has nearly 50 inmates housed in Irwin County in south Georgia due to the lack of local jail space. The cost to the county is $45 per day, per inmate, about $65,000 per month.



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comments (11)
« anonymous wrote on Wednesday, Nov 04 at 11:07 PM »
During the mid 70's jails were designated as punishment systems to control the out of control “wild generation”. Prior to that jails were mostly used to secure violent people away from the peaceful society. A small fraction of 1% were incarcerated at that time. Now that this paranoia is at its maximum over 1% of America is locked up. And that lockup trend is growing much, much faster than the population is growing. America is a much less friendly place. The word neighbors no longer mean the same as it did prior to 70's lock trend. Police uniforms and patrol cars now look more like our front line Special Forces. Prior to the change in the jail strategy the police were the peacemakers and smiled and waved at the town folk often. The war of American against American has shown no sign of slowing down while Japan, Germany and most other governments throughout the world have been locking up a smaller percentage of their population each year. But in America we all still get a laugh from that funny statement from years back, “Can’t we all just get along”. Hah hah hah. Laughing all the way to total anarchy which is similar to what that Roman emperor did when he played that violin while Rome burned.

« tiredoyou wrote on Wednesday, Nov 04 at 08:57 PM »
For all you idiots complaining about the whopping extra penny you will spend on each dollar...maybe the Sheriff's Office should just let "X" number of prisoners go to relieve overcrowding. Then when one of the newly released prisoners steals your car, or breaks into your home and breaks/steals your stuff...figure out how much your insurance will not pay to replace the things, plus how much your insurance will go up. I'll bet it will be a whole lot more than a few pennies. You guys are all a bunch of ill-informed idiots. Best of luck in life.
« binkiljs wrote on Wednesday, Nov 04 at 03:29 PM »
Yes, I certainly hope the fine for loud music was large too. I get tired of people traveling up & down my street playing their loud music as if the whole world wants to hear it. It is so lound in fact that it sometimes rattles my windows & doors.

(see comment from Outside Perspective & Either Way) I have to tell you though, the tax on a dollar would not be .50 cents once the increase takes place, it will only be .07 cents. Either way, I'm glad the SPLOST passed too, I think ALL who work, live & play here should help fund the facilities that are needed to manage the growing population, both inside & outside the jail.

As for government spending OUR money frivolously, that happens in every Government office from here to the White House, has gone on for many, many decades and will go on for many more to come. We lost sight of by the people, for the people a long time ago. & yes, I appealed my property tax bill....I believe we ALL pay too much tax, but I also feel there are a lot of people that live in this county who do not contribute a dime to our local government because they rent their place of dwelling instead of own. Do I think it is fair....most certainly not!
« Either Way wrote on Wednesday, Nov 04 at 01:14 PM »
Ticket for playing music too loud? Good. I hope it was very expensive.
« outside perspective wrote on Wednesday, Nov 04 at 12:56 PM »
This is why I left Douglas County.

I saw a cop give a guy a ticket for playing his music too loud on a Saturday night, really Douglas county?

Use the money for something better.
« Either Way wrote on Wednesday, Nov 04 at 12:43 PM »
Pass or not perhaps the closeness of this vote on the heels of the prior defeat will make the DC elected officials take a long hard look at how they are spending OUR money. I voted no before and voted no again yesterday. At some point there has to be a limit on tax increases...the pit is bottomless. They have the jail and they have a new courthouse. What will they just have to have next?

When I was growing up in the 70's, in Douglasville, I can remember Mom explaining why I couldn't buy an item for $1 if I only had $1. I needed $1.04. My grandkids will need $1.50.
« GladSPLOSTPassed wrote on Wednesday, Nov 04 at 10:20 AM »
Obviously the people that voted no for SPLOST are not homeowners. What the that voted "NO" don't realize is that the County has already obtained the land for the new complex. They ARE going to build the jail regardless of where the money comes from. I say let the people that aren't home owners & the people who shop in this county help fund the new facility. The progress that this county has made over the last 10 to 15 years has certainly attributed to the crime rate. What is ridiculous is that we, being Douglas County tax payers, are footing the bill in another county to house prisoners to the tune of $65,000 per month.
« dontmakemelaugh wrote on Wednesday, Nov 04 at 09:02 AM »
< >

That is a ridiculous statement. You obviously don't read the newspaper or pay attention to public notices. Pardon our elected officials for not driving a chauffeured limo to your sorry door to escort you to the polls. Your vote: Your responsibility to see to it you are informed.
« What on earth! wrote on Wednesday, Nov 04 at 08:17 AM »
Man.....what is it with Douglas Co. More tax. Our mil rate went up the last time, our homestead exemption is frozen, thanks to Sonny, and now another penny sales tax. There are so many empty building in Douglas Co that could be converted, why on earth not do that instead of building new.

I guess the sample people voted for splot increase that voted a few months ago to not permit alcohol sales on Sunday. Just think of the tax revenue that could have generated.

At least this time I knew about the election and made sure I voted. The earlier election this year I had no clue about. I think that's how the leadership of Douglas County perfers to run the county. Just let the ones who will get the vote they want know when election is.
« A concerned citizen wrote on Wednesday, Nov 04 at 02:35 AM »
I voted no and the turnout for this vote was 11 percent. I guess Douglas county has more dollars than sense. This is bad news people. You should have voted. Dont cry when you cant make ends meet. Who ever voted for this, do me a favor dont vote again, you just let the fox guard the hen house.
« thankful2 wrote on Tuesday, Nov 03 at 11:32 PM »
The sheriff definitely needed a new jail. Now get ready for the next round. For if were going to continue our aggressive lock up curve, we’re going to need another SPLOST vote in 8 years for it takes 3 years to wear down the few. Just 33 votes would have stopped it. It’s just such a horrible vision for our future but that’s where our current faint hearted leaders point us to. How many more years will it take before our society is put right again? Now is probably a good time to mention that non-violent prayer will help.