HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala (WDNews) – Houston County officials are grappling with escalating juvenile detention expenses. Currently, the county pays $126 per bed per day to house juveniles, amounting to about $600,000 last year. Without a spending cap, this figure could have been $100,000 higher. A proposed agreement with Southeast Alabama Youth Services would remove this cap and increase the daily rate to $170.
To offset these rising costs, the county is considering extending its existing tobacco tax to include vaping products. Chairman Shoupe noted, “You hate to raise taxes, but as technology and funding changes, you have to respond sometimes.”
This move aligns with broader trends, as 32 states and the District of Columbia have implemented taxes on vaping products to address public health concerns and generate revenue.
The county commission will discuss the rehab services agreement on Monday, December 9.
