A special election will be held in Blaine County on July 13 to determine whether a current sales tax can be used for new construction.
The ballot question would not change, increase or decrease any existing taxes, but rather would expand the ways in which the tax can be spent.
In 2004, Blaine County voters approved a measure that created a half-cent sales tax to fund the “maintaining and operation” of the Blaine County Courthouse and jail.
If approved, the July ballot measure would allow the tax to be spent on “maintaining, improving, operating, equipping and furnishing courthouse facilities and acquiring, constructing, maintaining, improving, financing, operating, equipping and furnishing jail facilities.”
Blaine County Clerk Jennifer Haigler said the county hopes to construct a new jail if the question passes. The Blaine County Board of Commissioners approved the special election during its regular meeting on May 10.