Portage County Commissioners have approved a quarter-percent sales tax hike that will go into effect starting next year. The increase will be used to fund expansion of the women’s wing in the county jail and creation of a drug rehabilitation program.

Kathleen Chandler is the Vice President of the Portage County Board of Commissioners. She says the heroin epidemic in Portage County has resulted in prison overcrowding, and the sales tax increase is necessary to fund the expansion.