Idahoans Reject 3 Jail Measures

Voters in three Idaho counties slammed the door on measures that would have paid for proposed jails or jail expansions. In Kootenai County in northern Idaho, a $57 million bond and half-cent sales tax to expand the county’s jail fell short of the two-thirds supermajority needed to pass. In Jerome County in south-central Idaho, a plan for a 30-year, $13.5 million lease-to-purchase agreement for a 165-bed jail fell 1.16 percent short of the supermajority. In Canyon County in southwestern Idaho, a $46 million bond failed after getting 57 percent approval, about 10 percent short of the supermajority of voters it needed to pass/ KHQ . Kootenai County jail vote total in dropdown box.

Question: Is there a reason, beyond the economy, that explains three why three measures to build or expand jails in Idaho?

OBLIGATION BOND
(Vote for )  1
(WITH 78 OF 78 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
YES  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     7,767   49.98
NO.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     7,772   50.02
Total .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .    15,539

SALES TAX
(Vote for )  1
(WITH 78 OF 78 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
YES  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     8,483   54.35
NO.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     7,126   45.65
Total .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .    15,609