NORWICH – Chenango County lawmakers were asked on Monday to adopt a resolution extending the 1 percent sale tax collection for the four-year-old Chenango County Public Safety Facility to Nov. 30, 2013.

The dedicated collection, instituted back in 2002 to afford the $31 million jail and public safety project, requires approval from the New York State Legislature every other year. Chenango County Clerk of the Board RC Woodford recommended applying early to ensure the county’s request is considered by both houses and signed by the Governor before it expires on Nov. 30, 2011.

The sales tax was originally opposed by community action groups and one county supervisor, Ross Iannello of New Berlin. It brought Chenango County’s rate to 8 percent. Its use was expanded in 2007 and again in 2008 to not only pay for the new 129-bed and Public Safety Facility’s construction, but also for operational expenses and expenditures related to the new 911 emergency communication tower system.

Before voting on the measure Monday, Smyrna Supervisor James B. Bays asked how long the tax would be extended into the future. “Are we close to being through with it?” he asked.