Pueblo County sheriff proposes tax increase to build jail

Pueblo County Sheriff Kirk Taylor is proposing a 1-cent sales tax increase to pay for a new jail, build a rehabilitation center and give employees a raise.

The tax is expected to generate $180 million and expire after 10 years.

“I believe that we’ll have it paid off in 10 years and then the tax will be gone. So this is not a perpetual tax. This does not go on forever,” Taylor said. “This is a way for our community to invest in itself. Something that is desperately needed for the safety and security of our community and for the inmates.”

Taylor said the new jail, which he estimates will cost $140 million, would be built on West Street between Fourth and Sixth streets behind the new judicial building.

For years, Taylor has complained about overcrowding at the jail. It was built in 1980 for a capacity of 509 inmates, but the population swells to more than 650 inmates often.

As for the current jail, Taylor said the dormitory would be torn down to make room for a drug and alcohol rehab center.

“I think it would keep a lot of people out of the judicial system altogether by attacking their additions, and more importantly I think we could get a public-private partnership with our local hospitals and our local non-profits to have a secondary stream so all the burden would not be on the county,” Taylor said.

Lastly, Taylor said a small portion of the tax would go toward bringing employees closer to market wage.

“We can’t pay them what they’re worth. We have consummate professionals here and in order to retain those professionals, you need to pay them,” he said.

Taylor met with Pueblo County commissioners Monday to brief them on his proposal. He said commissioners will decide whether to put the question on the ballot.

“This is not the only proposal by any means,” Taylor said. “I just haven’t seen another one.”