Voters in Garland County last week turned down a plan to support $42.4 million of revenue bonds with a 0.5% sales and use tax.
The county hoped to issue $36.7 million of bonds to finance a $34 million, 700-bed jail to replace one designed more than 20 years ago to hold fewer than 100 inmates. The current jail regularly has a population of more than 200.
The sales tax would also have supported $5.7 million of bonds to purchase and install communications equipment for the county sheriff and Hot Springs police.