Voters approve local option sales tax to pay for new jail

(KWNO)-Voters approved a local option sales tax to fund the newly built Winona County Jail. The ballot question asked for a sales and use tax of one-quarter of one percent for design and construction costs for the jail. The sales tax will replace property taxes as the funding source to repay $28 million in bonds. Voters approved the local option sales tax 53% to 47%. The sales and use tax will be imposed for a period not to exceed 25 years or until enough revenue has been raised to repay the bonds, whichever comes first.