Voters Say No to Jail Referendum
City Times Staff
Voters on Tuesday turned down an advisory referendum for a new county jail and courthouse building.
It’s the third time county officials have asked voters for permission to raise funds for a new county government building, which they say would put the jail and county offices under the same roof, and also improve layout and security for both.
Residents voted against the proposal by a vote of 21,913 to 13,916.
Tuesday’s referendum, which asked for $78.5 million to build a 270,000-square-foot addition to the Portage Co. Annex, was a nonbinding one, meaning the Board of Supervisors can move ahead if it chooses.
