Cleveland County Voters Approve Sales Tax Increase

Voters in Cleveland County have approved a sales tax increase to pay for a new $40 million jail.

Tuesday, December 9th 2008, 10:14 pm

By: News 9

Staff and Wire Reports

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- Voters in Cleveland County have approved a sales tax increase to pay for a new $40 million jail.

Eighty-nine of the 90 reporting precincts, 5,610 voted "yes" and 3,661 voted "no."
The new jail will be built on county-owned land in northwest Norman, and the tax will be for 20 years or until the bond debt is retired.

The Cleveland County Detention Center in central Norman is the only detention center in the county and was built to house a maximum 177 prisoners per day. The last several years, the jail has averaged 200-215 per day.