PIERRE - Taxpayers in Hughes County did not challenge their county commission's decision to opt out of property tax limits to build a new jail.

The deadline for residents to turn in about 530 petition signatures challenging the county's Dec. 3 action was Tuesday, officials said.

"I think that it just shows the confidence in the commissioners that the public has - that commissioners have studied the plan and have reviewed the plan," said Toby Morris of Northland Securities, which is handling the financing of a 150-bed jail proposed for land on Pierre's east side.

"As far as the financing, this is one of the bigger hurdles we needed to overcome, now we can get the construction manager and architect on board," Morris said.

The 20-year opt-out could raise property taxes if the county defaults on bond payments to be used toward the jail, which is estimated to cost $9-million.

"The voters thought that the commission was on the right track and that the plan to move forth with a new jail is good," said Kevin Hipple, Hughes County administrator.

"We had some people calling us who had some questions, and I think that we answered them well enough that they were satisfied, that was one of the reasons why I think there was no challenge," said Bill Abernathy, a county commission member.

"We do not plan on raising taxes or using taxpaying money to build this regional jail. We are planning on using the revenue from the federal prisoners to pay for the jail."