Fulton County voters approve sales tax increase for law enforcement

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Fulton County voters approved a one-cent sales tax increase in a special election Tuesday.

Unofficial returns shows 837 votes in favor of the measure, with 299 against.

Proceeds from the sales tax increase are earmarked for the operation of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and jail.

Fulton County Judge Darrell Zimmer said earlier a one-cent sales tax could bring in approximately $700,000. Zimmer said the current budget for the sheriff’s department is $629,000.

Collection of the tax begins April 1st.

Areawide Newspaper of Salem reported in September Fulton County Sheriff Al Roork told the quorum court his department needs close to $1 million annually to operate, noting the Izard County’ Sheriff’s Department has a budget of $1.6 million. To reach the needed level of funding would require $300,000 from the county, along with the money brought in from the proposed sales tax.

Roork said with that budget, he can hire an investigator, which he said he desperately needs, and give his employees pay raises.

Roork also mentioned jail standards reviewers recently inspected the jail and have brought up a lack of staffing, which could also impact cost.

The actions by the court to pursue the sales tax increase through the special election follow a passionate plea from Roork in early August regarding compensation for the employees in his department.

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