Three county jails face closure if tax votes fail

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Sales tax elections are set in three Oklahoma counties Tuesday to pay for construction of new jails.<br/><br/>Taxpayers in Haskell, Payne and Custer counties are being asked to support

Monday, November 7th 2005, 5:42 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Sales tax elections are set in three Oklahoma counties Tuesday to pay for construction of new jails.

Taxpayers in Haskell, Payne and Custer counties are being asked to support new taxes to replace outdated and overcrowded jails. The jails face possible closure if the taxes are rejected.

Since 1997, 36 counties have either built new jails, renovated existing jails or built annexes to ease overcrowding.

Payne County officials are proposing a 15-year, 1/4-cent sales tax to finance a 280-bed jail.

In Haskell County, voters there are being asked to approve a 25-year, 1/2-cent sales tax for a 120-bed jail.

In Custer County, voters are being asked to support a 6-1/2-cent sales tax to build a 141-bed jail.