Voters on Saturday renewed two half-cent sales taxes city officials expect to generate $2 million annually for the next 10 years. “We appreciate the public’s confidence in us,” Mayor Clarence Hawkins said. “That shows their trust in us. This was a long shot, considering these were one to two years away.” Voter turnout was low. In a city of about 14,00 people, only 498 cast their ballots, and 90 of those were absentee, Morehouse Parish Clerk of Court Carol Jones said. However, voters who supported the propositions didn’t necessarily cast votes for both. Proposition 1 garnered 328 votes, and proposition 2 received 315 votes. Those who voted against the taxes were more consistent – 150 people voted against both renewals. Hawkins, calling the approvals “a blessing,” had warned salaries for first responders and some operational expenses would be among numerous expenditures cut if the propositions were voted down. The city’s budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year is $10 million, and the money the half-cent sales taxes are expected to bring into the general fund annually starting next year represents 20 percent of its revenue. Saturday marked the second time in the last two decades the city has asked voters to approve the tax propositions. Bastrop once tried to make a tax hike permanent, but residents voted that down because they wanted the opportunity to revisit whether such tax renewals continue to be necessary. The sales-tax revenue, Ha ...
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