Hopkins County voters approved on Tuesday a $16 million bond project that would finance the construction of a new county jail and sheriff's office.
In light turnout, 2,326 voters cast ballots, approving the measure by a 1,256-1,070 margin.
The measure will increase property tax rates by seven cents per $100 of property value, county commissioners said.
The current county jail's security was called into question by some observers earlier in 2013, when two prisoners escaped from the jail's outdoor area in April. The escapees were caught less than a week later.
