Bill to fund new Shelby County Jail introduced in Tenn. legislature
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Two state legislators from Shelby County proposed a bill to fund the construction of a new jail to replace 201 Poplar.
Republican state Rep. John Gillespie and Democrat state Sen. Raumesh Akbari introduced the bill to their respective chambers, where it’s now being reviewed by the committee.
The bill would authorize Shelby County to raise the sales tax rate from 2.75% to 3.75%. The additional tax revenue would go directly to construct a new county jail or to retire the debt from construction.
The tax hike would have to pass a referendum vote to be enacted.
A new jail would address the concerns over the current facility, which county officials say is overcrowded, outdated, and in disrepair.
“There’s really a humanitarian crisis of sorts going on,” says Senate Minority Leader Akbari. “You have staff members who are put in danger, so it really has reached its breaking point.”
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