For the third time since November of 2022, Madison County voters will decide whether to fund the county jail that is under construction with a completion date expected in the spring.

For the second time, in an extremely close election, voters rejected a maintenance & operation sales tax increase to fund the Madison County Jail.

The Madison County Quorum Court voted unanimously on Monday night to request an ordinance containing “ballot language” for a 1 cent sales tax increase for the operation and maintenance of the new county jail and for that ordinance to be ready for a vote at the court’s next regular meeting in August or during a specially-called meeting before then.

The Madison County Quorum Court tabled discussion of a sales tax to fund the new county jail and sheriff’s office until the July meeting, by which time County Judge Larry Garrett, County Clerk Austin Boatright and Sheriff Ronnie Boyd should have an accurate sense of how much it will cost to operate the jail on a per-bed basis.

The Record is taking a closer look at issues facing Madison County and how candidates plan to address those issues.