HUNTSVILLE, Ark. -- The Madison County Sheriff says the current eight bed jail is too small. On Tuesday afternoon seven male inmates occupied the jail, but Sheriff Phillip Morgan says it’s almost always overcrowded.

Madison County Voters Will Decide On New Jail

“There are eight beds, and that’s not very many beds. We have 10 or 12 inmates almost all of the time,” said Morgan.

On Monday night the Madison County Quorum Court members passed ordinances pertaining to the building of a new jail. One proposal is for a half-cent sales tax increase to pay for a new facility, and the other is a half-cent sales tax increase to maintain and operate the jail if it’s built.

“All together it’s a penny increase, and half of it would go away when the jail is paid for, and we think that would be in about 13 years,” said Wes Fowler, county judge.

A new 50-bed facility would cost about $6 million. Fowler said both sales tax measures must pass for the new jail to be built. He said the county won’t build a jail if voters don’t also pass the increase, which would pay to operate the facility.

Voters will decide on the issues in the November general election.