Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

  • Built in the 1970s based on 1910 jail standards, the old Winona County jail had been outdated for decades, failing to meet the basic needs of inmates and law enforcement. The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) ordered the old jail to close in 2018, citing a long list of violations that could not be corrected in the over 40-year-old jail.

    Problems with the former jail included:

    • Noncompliant with state fire codes

    • Inadequate and outdated security system

    • Lack of programs connecting inmates to transitional services

    • Lack of accommodations for inmates with mental and physical health needs

    • Insufficient capacity to house current and future population needs

    • Lack of space for essential support services (laundry, food service, housekeeping, etc.).

    • Lack of program and exercise space

  • The county recognized the need for a modern facility that supports inmate rehabilitation, mental health care, medical treatment, and enhanced security to protect both inmates and law enforcement. This was a community challenge that had to be addressed. That is why the county invested $28 million to build the Winona County Detention Center. The new jail opened in December 2023.

  • Since its opening, the new county jail has proven to be a valuable community asset, with dedicated spaces for rehabilitation and transitional services, mental health and medical treatment, and enhanced security that protects law enforcement and inmates.

    To learn more about the new center, visit: About The New Jail.

  • The Winona County Board established the Jail Advisory Committee (JAC) in December 2017 to help determine how to address the inadequacies of the former jail. The JAC consisted of a diverse group from the community, including family members of incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people, the jail administrator, the Chief Deputy, the Sheriff, the County Attorney, and local businesspeople.

    After a year-long study was conducted on the old jail, the JAC concluded that simply remodeling the facility would fail to meet DOC regulations and the needs of the county. The County Board moved forward with the construction of the $28 million Winona County Detention Center. The new jail became fully operational in December 2023.

  • While the county did its best to maintain the aging former jail, its outdated design and years of heavy use meant that it could no longer serve inmates and law enforcement or meet state standards for operations and security.

  • The total construction cost of the new jail was $28 million, plus financing costs.

  • The new detention center opened in December 2023.

  • The Winona County Detention Center is currently being funded through the county’s property tax levy. Collections from the levy are being used to repay the $28 million in bonds issued for the design, construction, and related costs of the new facility. Like other counties across the state, Winona County is proposing a local sales tax, authorized by the state legislature, to replace the property tax as the funding source for the new county jail.

  • As part of the Nov. 5 general election, Winona County voters will consider a ballot question that seeks their approval of a 0.25% local sales tax to finance the remaining costs of the newly built county jail.

    The ballot referendum is NOT about approving the new jail — only how to pay for the facility.

Questions About the Local Sales Tax

  • A local sales tax would spread the cost of the new county jail among residents and nonresidents who make purchases in the county. In other words, the facility's funding source would be regional, just as the jail serves the region.

    If the local sales tax fails, only homeowners and commercial property owners in Winona County will continue paying for the jail using collections from the existing property tax levy.

  • If approved by voters, the local sales tax would relieve pressure on the existing property tax levy that funds county services, infrastructure, and operations, ensuring stable revenue for essential public needs.

  • The University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality analyzed the economic effects of a local sales tax increase in several Minnesota cities and found little evidence that overall sales growth for businesses was impacted. 

    In fact, many counties of a similar size have successfully adopted local sales taxes to help fund public projects that benefit communities across Minnesota, including Itasca, Beltrami, and Clay Counties.

  • If approved by voters, the local sales tax would start being used in the spring of 2025 and continue for up to 25 years, or until enough revenue has been raised to repay the $28 million in bonds issued for the construction of the new county jail — whichever happens first.

  • Yes. Like the state sales tax, essential goods, including groceries, clothing, agricultural items, farm equipment, motor vehicles, prescription drugs, and baby products are exempt from local sales taxes. For more information, view the complete list of tax-exempt items from the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

  • If approved by voters, the 0.25% local sales tax would add one penny for every $4 spent, or 5 cents for a $20 purchase made in Winona County.

    The county is pursuing a tax study by the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality, which specializes in determining the impact of local sales taxes. The Extension Center will provide estimates on how much of the sales tax would be paid by nonresidents, the average cost of the sales tax per county resident, and how much would be collected over the next several years.

  • Yes. Over the past several years, dozens of counties and cities across Minnesota have used local sales taxes to fund a wide range of major public projects with local and regional benefits, including public safety buildings, correctional facilities, public libraries, and new parks.

  • Much like a family that uses a mortgage to purchase a house, the county used bonds to pay for the construction of the new Winona County Detention Center.

    If the county waited to finance construction until all the necessary funding was collected from the local sales tax, the project would cost several times more and take much longer to complete.

    More importantly, county residents have already started to benefit from the investment, instead of many years down the road.

  • If the 0.25% local sales tax is approved by voters, the total sales tax rate in Winona County would be 7.63%, effective in 2025.

    The current sales tax rate in Winona County is 7.38%. This includes the 6.88% Minnesota state sales tax and the 0.5% Winona County transit tax.

  • No. If approved by voters this November, the 0.25% local sales tax would be in place for up to 25 years, or until enough revenue has been raised to repay the $28 million in bonds issued for the new jail—whichever happens first.

  • If approved by voters, the local sales tax can only be used to finance the remaining costs of the new Winona County Detention Center. That is state law. The sales tax cannot be extended or used for any other purpose unless approved by the State Legislature and Winona County voters.

  • Many businesses are required by law to collect state and local sales taxes from online purchases. The products and services that are taxed are the same as those taxed for in-store purchases. In other words, the local sales tax would be applied when the state sales tax is.

    However, there is one important way that the laws governing e-commerce are different than those governing in-person shopping. According to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, when you pick up a product at a seller's location, the sales tax is based on that location. So, if you went to a store in Winona to pick up the item, you would pay the county’s sales tax. If the product is shipped to you, the tax is based on the delivery address.

    For a full list of taxable and non-taxable items, visit the Department of Revenue’s website.

Questions About Voting

  • The following question will appear on the ballot for Winona County voters:

    Shall Winona County be authorized to impose a sales and use tax of one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) to fund the design, construction, and related costs for the newly built Winona County Jail that replaced the old jail built in 1970?

    If approved, collections from the sales tax would replace the property tax as the source for repayment of the $28 million in bonds issued for the new jail, plus interest and bond issuance costs. The sales and use tax would be imposed for a period not to exceed 25 years or until enough revenue has been raised to repay the bonds, whichever happens first.

  • Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Residents can vote in person on election day at their polling location.

    Residents can also vote early at home by requesting an absentee ballot beginning Friday, Sept. 20. Absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day (Nov. 5) to be counted. For more information, visit our Vote page. 

  • If the local sales tax fails, homeowners and commercial property owners will continue paying for the new county jail using collections from the property tax levy.

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