MOSCOW, ID – Latah County officials held a public meeting Tuesday to discuss a possible new jail.
The county sheriff’s office had to close its aging jail at the courthouse in Moscow last fall because it no longer met standards. The jail failed an inspection in the fall of 2024. Local inmates have been transported back and forth from the Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office Jail in Lewiston since October.
Latah County hired a consultant firm to conduct a public survey about a future jail. The consultants provided preliminary results from the survey which is still underway. So far about 1,000 Latah County residents have responded. 80% say it’s important to have a local jail and most support a new facility. Just under 50% of the respondents say they would support for a property tax increase and bond to pay for a new jail. About a third said they were unsure about a bond. No decisions have been made yet about the size of a potential new jail.
There was a lot of discussion during the packed meeting regarding a potential local sales tax increase to fund a new jail. That option is not currently allowed under Idaho state law. Several county officials and residents discussed a strong desire to lobby the legislature for a local sales tax option tax.
You can take the survey here https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/TLBRgS
