“We need to properly fund the prison for the next 25 years,” Coconino County Sheriff Jim Driscoll said in a presentation to the Sedona City Council on Oct. 11.

With the election scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, Coconino County residents are asked to vote on Proposition 445, AKA Prison District Sales Tax.

The name may surprise you, but Driscoll assured Congress and residents that the Prison District Sales Tax is already in effect and is not a new tax.

“What we are asking voters to do is vote on extending that tax,” Driscoll said. “The prison tax we have now is a sales tax, not a property tax, and everyone pays it. , reducing the burden on property owners and businesses.”

The prison district sales tax currently provides $18 million of the Coconino County Detention Center’s $22 million operating budget, which helps keep crime rates down through a variety of tax-funded programs. Discoll said.

The first prison district sales tax was passed in 1996, imposing a three-tenths cent excise tax on prison districts to repay loans used to build new prison facilities to address overcrowding. assigned. The tax money was also used to run prisons and implement a diversion program.

In 2006, county residents passed a half-cent proposal to address increasing operating costs, establish substance abuse assistance programs, and reduce recidivism rates.

The new rate accounts for 50 cents on a $100 purchase, the maximum allowed by Arizona law. The proposal would cover most of the prison’s operating costs and extend the tax through July 2027.

One of Driscoll’s key points for extending the tax goes beyond prison routines and is intended to continue inmate programs that reduce the chances of someone reoffending and returning to prison.

“The problem we’ve had in this country is the revolving door of people going in and out of prison,” Driscoll said. “The inmate programs we offer are designed to reduce the number of people who return. We call it recidivism.”

Programs such as EXODUS and mental health support for inmates aim to keep released people from returning to prison.

“Every program we do is predicated on getting people the support they need. do.

The EXODUS program is a 90-day in-custody drug and alcohol treatment program that also teaches communication, anger management, and parenting skills, among other useful life skills. The program aims to reduce recidivism and improve people’s lives. Driscoll boasted that of her 1,600 inmates who completed the EXODUS program, only 30% made it back to prison. This is a remarkable statistic when compared to his national average of 70% of inmates returning to prison within just 12 months.

“The biggest thing this tax will do is get people out of prison and keep them from coming back,” Driscoll said. When the taxes expire, programs such as EXODUS may end, leading to higher crime rates as well as overcrowded prisons.

The city of Sedona also has a significant cost to imprison those arrested on the Coconino County side of the city, and that cost can be passed on to city residents and businesses.

“I hope the program can continue because, honestly, that’s what it’s all about and giving these people a chance to get back on their feet,” Driscoll said.

After press time, a virtual town hall meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, October 18th. A link to this meeting can be found on the Coconino County website and Additional Tax Information.

Statement from Coconino County District 3 Supervisor Matt Ryan on behalf of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon:

“I support the continuation of the Coconino County Jail District Sales Tax – Proposition 445.

“The continuation of the existing prison district sales tax is critical to public safety. Covers most of the costs associated with this important public safety resource in a key component of Coconino County’s criminal justice system.

“Programs like Exodus offer individuals the opportunity to change the paths that may have led to their involvement in the criminal justice system. Structured as a sales tax rather than a property tax, the operating costs of our prisons are shared among the residents of our community and the millions of people who visit our area each year. It has been.

“This is not a new tax or a tax increase. Prison districts have been in place since 1997, when they were approved by voters. The current sales tax accounts for a large portion of the prison’s operating costs, and as a result supports current functions and programs within the prison. To that end, it is imperative that the Prison District Sales Tax Extension be passed.”