Habersham County voters overwhelmingly approved SPLOST VIII to raise $52 million over the next six years to build a new jail, keeping the county’s sales tax at 7%. The passage ensures funding for a replacement to the current 1997-built detention center, which county officials say is deteriorating, overcrowded, and no longer meets safety or ADA standards.
The penny sales tax package also includes approximately $23 million in funding for fire and EMS headquarters, public safety vehicles, and improvements to roads, bridges, parks, and municipal projects across the county.
The referendum passed in the November 4th off-year election, with 70% of the vote—4,267 in favor to 1,875 opposed.
County leaders and Sheriff Robin Krockum argued a new jail is necessary to avoid lawsuits and future federal intervention, as well as to improve safety and add rehabilitation programs. They also pointed out that a larger facility could generate revenue by housing inmates from other jurisdictions — a reversal of the current practice that costs Habersham up to $600,000 a year.
Approximately 30-40% of the revenue is expected to come from out-of-county shoppers, driven in part by increased online sales tax collections, according to the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce.
The new jail will be built using prefabricated cells manufactured by SteelCell in Baldwin. County officials say construction will help ensure humane, secure conditions for inmates and staff — and avoid more expensive court-ordered fixes down the road.
The county will begin collecting funding for the jail and other SPLOST VIII projects after the current SPLOST expires. SPLOST VIII runs from 2027 through 2032.
