Davis commissioners OK bond sale for jail

FARMINGTON — After two years of waiting and worrying about whether voters would approve a general obligation bond to build a jail addition, Davis County commissioners took a big step toward building it by approving the conditions of the bond sale.

With the authority voters gave them by approving the only tax measure to pass in Davis County on Nov. 2, commissioners authorized the issuance and sale of bonds in an amount not to exceed $24.8 million for a period of 21 years or less at an interest rate of 6 percent or less.

The bonds are expected to be sold sometime in January by Zions Public Finance. An announcement will appear in a newspaper next week of the intent to sell the bonds and that will start a public comment period.

The commission will hold a public hearing on the county budget Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Memorial Courthouse.

Steve Rawlings, county clerk/auditor, said because the general obligation bond was approved by the voters, the county will not have to have a truth-in-taxation hearing.

"Now that we've got a positive vote from the public on the jail bond, we have added the $24.8 million in bond revenues to the county budget along with the appropriate 2005 expenditures," Rawlings said. The updated budget will be available to the public at the courthouse on Nov. 30.

State law requires such documents be available to the public at least 10 days before public hearings.

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