SALES, PROPERTY TAX INCREASES ON BALLOT

BENTON -- Three proposed tax increases will draw the interest of Scott County voters Tuesday.

The Scott County Commission is asking for approval of two quarter-cent sales taxes issues, one to fund additional law enforcement services and the second to build a new county jail.

The third proposal involves a 10-cent increase in property taxes per $100 of assessed valuation to fund mental health services. The proposal is being promoted by the Scott County Mental Health Board of Trustees, which was established in 1992 to implement or expand county revenues for mental health services.

With an assessed valuation of about $235 million in Scott County, the proposed property tax would generate $235,000 annually.

The new tax will cost $9.50 per year for an owner of a residence with an appraised value of $50,000. Property owners with 100 acres of top-grade farmland will pay $10.73 annually for the mental health tax.

Ellie Knight of Scott City, a member of the Committee for Proposition Care, which is promoting the mental health tax, said the funds will help to provide services for families in crisis. Some of those services will help women, children and the elderly who are victims of domestic violence.

The additional funds will also help with outreach services for the elderly who suffer from depression, alcohol abuse and various emotional disorders relating to aging, Knight said. She said the county mental health board will try to provide early intervention and prevention programs for children, expanded outpatient services and help for those with substance abuse.

Both sales tax proposals are to be used for law enforcement, said Scott County Presiding Commissioner Bob Kielhofner. If both measures pass, Scott County consumers will pay an additional 10 cents on a $20 retail purchase. Each is expected to raise $704,000 during the first year.

Kielhofner said no one likes a tax increase, but these are necessary to meet the increasing number of criminals the county law enforcement system has to handle each year. A new jail will give the sheriff, prosecuting attorney and judges much more leeway in handling criminals.

The proposal for additional law enforcement services will help the jail operation, the prosecutor's office and the juvenile office, Kielhofner said. Each of these offices could use additional manpower and that would be especially true with a new jail.

The sales tax for the jail will allow the county to build a facility costing about $4.5 million that will be paid off in eight to 10 years, Kielhofner said.

He said estimates have shown the funding will provide a jail with 80 to 120 beds.