Michael Williams, PhD
County Administrator
This November, you will be asked to vote on a referendum that will determine how Stearns County will pay for its new justice center, with a sales tax or property tax. If Stearns County residents vote yes to the sales tax, all construction costs will be paid for with the sales tax. If Stearns County residents vote no to the sales tax, the facility will need to be paid for with a property tax.
The project cost is projected to be no more than $325 million. This November, you as voters, will decide if the project cost will be distributed between county residents and visitors through a 3/8-cent sales tax or if residents will shoulder full funding of the project through a property tax.
- If the proposed sales tax passes, construction costs will be distributed between County residents and visitors. Since non-residents account for nearly 55 percent of county sales-tax spending, a yes vote effectively splits construction costs between residents and non-residents.
- If the proposed sales tax does not pass, the County will still need new facilities but will need to raise the funds entirely through increased property taxes. Construction costs will be solely funded by county residents.
The County is currently in the schematic design phase of a new Justice Center to be built on an undeveloped piece of land in St. Cloud. This decision follows the State of Minnesota’s determination that Stearns County needs to update its public-safety facilities. The final site for the new Justice Center project is anticipated to include 270 jail beds, a law enforcement center, courtrooms and related facilities. The site location will be announced in the coming months.
The new Justice Center will offer a comprehensive solution to a long list of needs that includes the need to meet state requirements, the need for a more efficient jail, the need to provide our law enforcement officers with better facilities, and the need for more courtrooms and judges. Most importantly, however, is the collective need to be fully equipped to address the evolving safety needs of our residents – today and for decades to come.
We recognize that you put your trust in us to be good stewards of public funding. The County Board has made it clear they’re prepared to be flexible in the scale of this project to make sure it remains a wise long-term investment for our community. The Board and County staff will ensure due diligence is taken every step of the way to keep the project in scope and on schedule.
You can learn more about the project by attending one of the community meetings we’re holding in every part of Stearns County. In addition, a project-specific website has been established at stearnscountymn.gov/justicecenter. There you’ll find a calendar of events, up-to-date project information and ways to contact us. We want to know your concerns. We want to answer your questions. We want you to know that no decision about this project has been made lightly and we want you to feel fully informed on Nov. 5 when you cast your vote on the proposed sales tax.
Once ballots are cast and the public has decided, we will work with our consultants to finalize designs and prepare to break ground, perhaps as soon as fall 2025. There is still much to do to bring this critical project to reality and your involvement is appreciated.
