(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission is taking steps to pay off the bonds issued in 2009 for the construction of the county jail 2 ½ years early.

The Commission voted Monday to sign an agreement with Piper Jaffrey to assist the county in closing out the bonds for a fee of $7,500.

Brown County voters in November 2008 approved a half-cent countywide retailers sales tax to fund construction of the jail. Collection of the sales tax began April 1st, 2009, with the proceeds going to pay off $4.4 million in revenue bonds issued to finance the project.

The sales tax revenue collected has exceeded expectations and the county is able to able to pay the bonds off early.

Even though the county has the funds to pay off the bonds, the county recently learned the Kansas Department of Revenue will require that the sales tax continue through the end of the year.

Commission Chairman Warren Ploeger says he’s not happy that the county will have to wait to end the sales tax.

County Attorney Kevin Hill said the sales tax collected through the last quarter of the year will go toward improvements and upkeep of the county jail.