(2/3/2021)
The Winona County Board is exploring the possibility of a sales tax to help fund the planned new jail facility.
The county has issued $10 million in bonds to get the initial capital to build the jail, with plans to bond for a total $25 million. Those bonds will have payments due, just like if an average resident was to get a loan to buy a car. Normally Winona County would pay the bonds off with an increase in property taxes paid by residents of the county. However, that strategy could change in the near future.
The County Board plans a discussion at its next meeting about whether or not to make some of those payments through the implementation of a new countywide sales tax.