Clark County Proposition No. 12 — Bonds for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Capital Infrastructure

What it does

Bonds for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Capital Infrastructure The Clark County Council adopted Resolution 2026-07-08, concerning public safety and criminal justice infrastructure. This proposition would allow Clark County to acquire, construct, remodel, and equip public safety and criminal justice infrastructure in Clark County, including the remodel and expansion of the Clark County Jail and courtrooms and a new or remodeled Sheriff’s Office Headquarters; issue no more than $366,204,000 of general obligation bonds maturing within 31 years; and levy annual excess property taxes on all taxable property within Clark County to pay the bonds, pursuant to Resolution 2026-07-08. Should this proposition be approved?

A YES vote means

Clark County could issue up to $366,204,000 in bonds, maturing within 31 years and repaid with property taxes, to remodel and expand the County Jail and courtrooms and build or remodel a Sheriff's Office Headquarters.

A NO vote means

Clark County would not issue these bonds, and the related property tax would not be levied.

Needed to pass

A 60% supermajority: at least 60 out of every 100 YES and NO votes must be YES, so a measure can get a majority and still fail.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Example

The County estimates the bond would cost the owner of a median-priced $550,000 home about $86 a year ($7.17 a month). That works out to roughly $15.60 a year per $100,000 of assessed value. These are County estimates; actual amounts depend on interest rates and future assessed values. (source)

Who would notice

All Clark County property owners (except those in the senior exemption program), who would pay the bond tax, and people held or working in the jail, the courts and the Sheriff's Office.

How it got here

The County Council placed it on the ballot with Resolution 2026-07-08; the County says community feedback led it to scale the project back to a 'partial build' about $140 million cheaper. Needs 60% yes and turnout of at least 40% of the last governor's election.

In the news

• Propositions 12, 13 would fund jail expansion, criminal justice services · The Columbian, 2026-10-03
• Letter: 'A serious jail problem deserves a serious solution' · Clark County Today (letter), 2026-10-06

Written by SpectrumVote from 5 linked sources (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Background

According to the County's FAQ, the Clark County Jail was built in 1984, currently has 519 beds, and has had no available beds 88% of the time since January 2025; the expansion would add 220 beds for a total of 739.

The County estimates the bond at $366 million: $346 million to remodel and expand the jail (including courtrooms) and $20 million for a new Sheriff's Office headquarters, now located in the jail's basement; it says community feedback led to a scaled-back 'partial build' about $140 million cheaper.

The County estimates the cost at about $86 a year for a median $550,000 home; the bond needs 60% approval and turnout of at least 40% of the last gubernatorial election, and the County says it will not issue the bonds until operating funding (Proposition 13) is secured.

OPB reported the County Council approved placing both propositions on the ballot unanimously.

Put on the ballot by Clark County Council, unanimous as reported by OPB, July 21, 2026 (Resolution 2026-07-08).

From official source 1, official source 2.

In the news

• Clark County Council asks voters to approve $366M bond for jail remodel · OPB, 2026-07-22

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Clark County ballots

• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 19 — Concerning a Limitation on Consecutive Terms for County Council Members
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 20 — Concerning a Revised Budget Transparency Process
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 21 — Concerning Revised Council Powers Regarding Boards and Commissions
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 22 — Concerning a Clarification of Nonpartisan Office Elections
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 23 — Concerning a Required Annual Report Publication by the County Manager
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 24 — Concerning a Requirement for a Housing Impact Analysis
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 25 — Concerning the Requirement of Supermajority Approval by Council for County Taxes
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 26 — Concerning the Initiative, Mini-Initiative, and Referenda Process
• Clark County Proposed Charter Amendment No. 27 — Concerning Legislative Branch Performance Audits
• Clark County Proposition No. 13 — Levy Lid Lift for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Services

All Clark County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Clark County Proposition No. 12 mean?

Clark County could issue up to $366,204,000 in bonds, maturing within 31 years and repaid with property taxes, to remodel and expand the County Jail and courtrooms and build or remodel a Sheriff's Office Headquarters.

What does a NO vote on Clark County Proposition No. 12 mean?

Clark County would not issue these bonds, and the related property tax would not be levied.

What if Proposition 12 passes but Proposition 13 fails?

The County says it will not issue any bonds until operating funding is secured, so homeowners would not see the estimated $86 a year in the meantime.

What does it take to pass?

At least 60% yes votes, and total turnout of at least 40% of the number who voted in the last gubernatorial election.

Who is held in the jail?

The County says about 90% of those housed face felony charges such as murder, assault or vehicle theft, and about 10% face misdemeanors.

How many votes does Clark County Proposition No. 12 need to pass?

A 60% supermajority: at least 60 out of every 100 YES and NO votes must be YES, so a measure can get a majority and still fail.

Should I vote yes or no on Clark County Proposition No. 12?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.