Fayetteville voters overwhelmingly supported using sales tax to pay for cost overruns of the city's $ 183 million Wastewater System Improvement Project Tuesday.
Voters approved adding a 1 / 4 cent sales tax and extending the 3 / 4 cent sewer tax to pay for $ 110 million in bonds to fund $ 42 million in sewer overruns and $ 68 million in transportation projects.
The ballot consisted of four questions, the first two of which were for the sewer costs. Question one was for $ 25 million in sewer overruns, which passed by a margin of 76. 28 percent, and question two was $ 17. 1 million, which passed by a margin of 75. 52 percent.
"Very good," Mayor Dan Coody said, when the results were released.
"I'm not surprised they passed but surprised by such a large margin," Coody said. "It shows Fayetteville voters are pretty savvy."
Coody said that the vote shows that people understand that the sewer project has been affected by the same rising costs that everyone has had to deal with.
The last time Fayetteville voters supported a sales tax to fund the sewer project was in 2001, when it had a price tag of $ 120 million and a completion date of September of 2005.
The decision Tuesday was made by 5, 838, or about 17 percent, of the 34, 823 registered voters in Fayetteville.
The turnout for the sales tax vote was less than the amount that voted in favor of the ban on smoking in public places in 2004. In the smoking ban election, 5, 972 voted for the ban, with a total of 11, 534 voters participating.
Ward 2 Alderman Kyle Cook said that he was pleasantly surprised by the result of the election.
"I'm kind of surprised - that's overwhelming on all four issues," Cook said. "But I'm happy that the trails passed - that's a good number for trails too."
Cook said that while people approved the tax, that does not mean that they are happy with city government. They supported the tax because they didn't want to pay the full cost in their rates, he said, but they also expect the road project to be handled better.
"The burden's back on the city now," Cook said. "We've got to get the sewer project done and have got to make this road project work very well."
The results will remain unofficial until the Washington County Election Commission certifies them, which will happen a week from Friday, said John Logan Burrow, commission chairman.
Burrow said the turnout was substantial for a special election, but not uncharacteristic for a concentrated campaign.
By passing the tax, voters avoid a monthly sewer rate increase of about 50 percent, though they still face an estimated increase of about 20 percent to cover the operation and maintenance of the sewer system. According to a report by the consultant performing a rate study, the city has focused all of its resources on the sewer project, which is the reason for the needed increase.
The city has been spending proceeds from a 29. 5 percent rate increase on operation and maintenance for the entire system, rather than for the operation of the new sewer plant.
Cook said that the rate study is not expected to be completed until January, so it will likely be spring before residents' rates will be increased.
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