Oklahoma County voters will decide on a sales tax to finish and operate a new jail and fund diversion and mental health programming after the Board of County Commissioners called for an election on Nov. 3.

At long last, Oklahoma County voters will have what could be the final say on whether the county has the money to build and operate a new jail after the Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 during Wednesday’s meeting to place a first-of-its-kind sales tax on the Nov. 3 ballot.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — Oklahoma County commissioners approved a proposal Wednesday that would ask voters to approve a sales tax to help pay for a new jail and its ongoing operations, as county leaders grapple with a funding shortfall for the project.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Funding a new Oklahoma County Jail will now be up to voters.

County leaders voted on Tuesday to put a sales tax measure on the election ballot in November.

The proposal includes a 0.004 (four tenths of one percent) sales tax, which is essentially a sliver of a penny tax for every dollar you spend.

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Board of County Commissioners voted 2-1 Wednesday to put the proposal on the November 3 ballot. District 1 Commissioner Jason Lowe was the only commissioner to vote against it.

The proposed four-tenths-of-a-cent sales tax would generate an estimated $70 million a year for 25 years.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma County commissioners voted two-to-one to put a 25-year sales tax proposal on the November ballot to secure additional funding for a new detention facility, citing a shortfall in the $260 million in bonds approved by voters four years ago.