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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- After years of failed requests for additional staffing and maintenance updates El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa is asking for a new $22.5 million tax measure.

The El Paso County Sheriff made a presentation to the board of county commissioners Tuesday and said critical maintenance issues have gone unaddressed.

Maketa's biggest concern is staffing levels, they're currently the same as they were in 1990.

So, if the tax were to pass, $14 million would focus specifically on personnel and increase staff on patrol by 60 percent.

"Colorado Springs is a great place to live, you can't have criminals running the streets, so let's do the right thing," Jim Graham, an El Paso County voter, said.

The $22.5 million measure would be a sales tax of 23 cents per $100, that's excluding food and medications, with no specific end date as of right now.

The measure would also go towards critical maintenance issues with El Paso County jail doors that aren't opening and closing properly in the jail pods.

"The door problem, that's a concern because if they fail we can't just close down part of the jail, it's not even a logical option," Maketa said.

The Sheriff said this is the smallest amount he can ask for and still have a visible impact.

El Paso County Commissioners have directed staff to write the language for the ballot.

They will then review it Thursday and again Tuesday before voting in their Sept. 4 meeting.