Ballot question, what's next?
Commission chairman Randy Dallke said the goal of the commission was to have a question placed on the ballot for the April 3 election.
And what would the question ask?
The question could ask voters to consider a specific percentage of sales tax increase.
Bennett said he wasn't sure if it was proper for the county to prey on those less fortunate.
"It's a train wreck in your life to go to jail," Bennett said. "To capitalize on it to make a profit is not how I want my tax dollars spent."
Williams asked what would happen if a sales tax increase didn't pass in the April election? Dallke responded he didn't know.
"We'll keep pursuing something that will work," he said, stating the current jail was built in 1923 and had minimal upgrades in 1983.
Terry Hagen, an owner of Hillsboro Ford-Mercury, said the county and constituents need to know the costs for a smaller project in case a sales tax increase doesn't pass in April.
"If you don't do it right, the county will have to come back to the issue in two or three years and expand at a higher cost," said Bob Maxwell of rural Marion who also serves as a county representative on the Corrections Advisory Board for the Eighth Judicial District. "You get what you pay for."
Marion Chamber of Commerce Executive Secretary Margo Yates agreed.
"We don't need a Band-Aid. We need to do it right," she said. "We don't want to wait until we're sued or something worse happens."
She commented that she has taken numerous calls from people interested in moving or visiting Marion and has never been asked about the sales tax.
Joel Klassen of Hillsboro said some businesses are struggling and people are willing to drive 30 minutes to save $200.
"I've received calls from local business owners who have said an increase in sales tax would drive them out of business," said Christy Wulf of Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce.
She noted that there was a significant number of older residents in Hillsboro and the county who just won't spend as much if there is a sales tax increase.
"The lines are clearly drawn," Wulf said.
