Chesterfield County leaders advance 1% sales-tax referendum after inspection of aging detention center

Council members on the Chesterfield County Council on July (meeting) advanced the first reading of an ordinance proposing a 1% capital project sales tax that would go to voters to fund construction of a new county detention center.

The move followed a report from John Long, chair of the county''s Capital Project Sales Tax Commission, who said the commission met three times, toured the existing detention facility and voted to put a ballot question before voters after minor edits requested by bond counsel. "We did vote to approve the ballot question," Long said, and the commission plans public education and outreach to explain why officials consider a new facility necessary.

Why it matters: commissioners and council members described the current detention center as unsafe and outdated for both staff and inmates. Long said touring the facility "opened our eyes" to operational and safety problems. Council members said the County must decide not whether to build but how the public wants to pay for it.

Commission and next steps: Long told the council the commission has scheduled a special called meeting for July 15 at 9:00 a.m. and a combined briefing on July 20, when council members will receive the exact ballot question language prepared by the county''s bond attorneys. Michelle Stanley, a county staffer working with the commission and bond counsel, told the council the bond attorneys draft the precise legal language that will appear on the referendum; she said that language will be distributed to councilmembers ahead of the next briefing.

Claims and figures in the meeting: during discussion members referenced facility capacity and case mix. One speaker summarized that the facility''s nominal capacity figure of about 165 was being used in planning; a magistrate reported roughly 72''7 of current detainees are held on violent-felony charges, highlighting the county''s need to ensure safe, secure housing. Council members framed those numbers as approximate and presented them as part of the rationale for seeking voter approval of a capital funding plan.

What was not decided: the council approved only first reading by title of the sales-tax ordinance and voiced approval by roll/voice; the ballot question, final cost estimates and project design remain to be completed. Bond counsel will finalize the referendum wording and county staff will carry out outreach and education before any referendum is placed before voters.

A council member said the commission and staff must emphasize transparency and public education, adding that the referendum choice is how the public prefers to pay for a needed facility rather than whether the county needs a new jail. The commission indicated it will continue work with county attorneys and bond counsel as it prepares for the next public steps.

The commission report and the first reading concluded with the chair urging members to attend the July 15 special meeting and July 20 briefing to review the proposed ballot language.