Sec. 17. (a) This section applies only to Perry County.

     (b) Perry County possesses unique governmental and economic development challenges due to:

(1) underemployment in relation to similarly situated counties and the loss of a major manufacturing business; and

(2) overcrowding of the county jail, the costs associated with housing the county’s inmates outside the county, and the potential unavailability of additional housing for inmates outside the county.

The use of a tax under this section is necessary for the county to provide adequate jail capacity in the county and to maintain low property tax rates essential to economic development. The use of a tax under this section for the purposes described in this section promotes these purposes.

     (c) The county fiscal body may impose a tax on the adjusted gross income of local taxpayers at a tax rate that does not exceed the lesser of the following:

(1) Five-tenths percent (0.5%).

(2) The rate necessary to carry out the purposes described in this section.

     (d) Revenue from a tax imposed under this section may be used only for the following purposes:

(1) To finance, construct, acquire, improve, renovate, remodel, or equip the county jail and related buildings and parking facilities, including costs related to the demolition of existing buildings, the acquisition of land, and any other reasonably related costs.

(2) To repay bonds issued or leases entered into for constructing, acquiring, improving, renovating, remodeling, and equipping the county jail and related buildings and parking facilities, including costs related to the demolition of existing buildings, the acquisition of land, and any other reasonably related costs.

     (e) The tax imposed under this section may be imposed only until the last of the following dates:

(1) The date on which the purposes described in subsection (d)(1) are completed.

(2) The date on which the last of any bonds issued (including any refunding bonds) or leases described in subsection (d)(2) are fully paid.

The term of the bonds issued (including any refunding bonds) or a lease entered into under subsection (d)(2) may not exceed twenty-five (25) years.

     (f) Funds accumulated from a tax under this section after:

(1) the redemption of the bonds issued; or

(2) the final payment of lease rentals due under a lease entered into under this section;

shall be transferred to a county capital project fund to be used to finance capital projects within Perry County.

As added by P.L.243-2015, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.38-2021, SEC.46; P.L.137-2024, SEC.11.