Supervisors Seeking Option of Sales Tax for Courthouse, Jail

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to seek state legislation that would allow it to ask voters for a half-cent sales tax to finance a new courthouse and the controversial Gypsum Canyon jail.

County administrators are still researching the sales tax idea along with other options, including one that would, in effect, add to county property taxes. Unlike many counties in the state, Orange County has no local sales tax.

“At this point, it’s whatever would give us the best opportunity,” said Thomas F. Riley, chairman of the supervisors. “I’m not for anything that’s going to complicate the thing.”

While the financing options are being reviewed, however, officials say they need to begin the process of getting the Legislature’s approval to “preserve the option” of a local sales tax. Without this approval, the county does not have the authority to create a new tax.

The county administrative office is expected to recommend a specific financing measure to the supervisors later this year. But no matter what option is passed by the supervisors, the final decision will be up to voters in countywide balloting probably in June or November of 1990.

As they research the financing options, county officials say they will also be testing the political waters of the county’s conservative electorate, which is notorious for rejecting higher taxes.

Two other items expected to be on the ballot next year could also affect the decision on jail financing. One is a citizens’ initiative aimed at killing the Gypsum Canyon project. The other is a half-cent sales tax proposal that transportation officials are considering as a way to pay for road improvements.

Some county officials believe that the jail and road taxes should be pitched together as a combined penny tax. But Riley is one who believes that the taxes should be separated--one on the June ballot, the other in November--and the road tax should be put to voters first.

Because the public is more educated about traffic problems, Riley said he believes that the road improvement tax would have a better chance at the polls. He also said the county needs more time to sell its plan to pay for the new jail with a tax.

The Gypsum Canyon jail, planned for a site near Anaheim, would provide about 6,000 maximum-security beds, more than doubling the size of the county’s current jail system. The first phase, which would be funded by the sales tax, is expected to cost about $450 million. The second phase would add $250 million to the project.

Construction of the jail was supposed to start this year, but it has been delayed until at least next year because of the financing troubles. Supervisors chose the jail site in July, 1987, when the county was under pressure from a federal judge to relieve overcrowding at correctional facilities.

The proposal for a new 14-story courthouse in Santa Ana calls for spending another $250 million.

County officials appear to be leaning toward the sales tax option for jail financing, in part because non-county residents would also contribute to the fund when they make purchases within the county.

Officials note that the sales tax also requires approval from a simple majority of voters in the election, whereas some other financing options require support from two-thirds of those who cast ballots.