Voters split on tax
Published 11:53 am Wednesday, September 13, 2006
By By Kerry Whipple Bean – publisher
Tuesday was a bittersweet night for Brewton City Schools Superintendent Lynn Smith.
Voters on Tuesday passed a 3-mill tax renewal for the city schools - but failed to renew a 3-mill tax for the rest of the county and a 1-mill tax for both the city and the county.
Smith, who was waiting for election returns at the Escambia County courthouse Tuesday night, said he expects the county to try again with the tax renewal.
The 1-mill tax means about $70,000 for city schools.
The city tax passed with 80 percent, but the countywide tax garnered only 51 percent - it needed 60 percent to pass. Only 42.5 percent voted for the 3-mill tax for the rest of the county.
Turnout was low across the county.
Alco saw only 47 voters - its lowest total for any election.