County Support Tax Renewed Overwhelmingly
Posted on Wednesday, July 12th, 2017
Love County voters approved in overwhelming fashion the renewal of a penny sales tax that supports Love County EMS, among other vital county services, on July 11, 2017.
The special election question was approved Yes 468, 93 percent, No 35, seven percent. There wasn't a single No vote in the Greenville precinct and countywide, the absentee and early voting count was Yes 78, No 0.
The tax dates back to 1988 when it was first approved and has now been renewed six times. Without Tuesday's affirmative vote, the tax would have expired March 31, 2018.
The proceeds from this tax are divided among a number of county entities.
The majority, 50 percent, is deposited into the county's general government account, which covers maintenance and operations of county property and operating expenses. The remaining half is divided with five percent going to each of the following: Ambulance Service, Senior Citizens Center, OSU Extension, County Tax Assessor, County Clerk, County Treasurer, County Sheriff, and County Court Clerk.
The final 10 percent is used for county fire protection, divided among the 14 Love County fire departments.
The one-cent tax is expected to produce well over $1 million this fiscal year. The county also has a second one-cent tax which doesn't require renewing.
County Tax Vote Totals
Library: 52 Yes, 8 No; Shady Dale: 55 Yes, 4 No; Thackerville: 46 Yes, 3 No; Marietta First Baptist Church: 62 Yes, 6 No; Turner School: 54 Yes, 2 No; Leon: 30 Yes, 2 No; Courtney: 22 Yes, 1 No; Orr: 21 Yes, 1 No; Fair Building: 36 Yes, 3 No; Greenville: 45 Yes, 0 No; Enville: 29 Yes, 3 No; Eastman: 16 Yes, 2 No.
Total: 468 Yes, 35 No
(From Marietta Monitor)