DEXTER VOTERS REJECT SALES TAX FOR PARKS

BLOOMFIELD -- Dexter Parks and Recreation Supt. Lawson Metcalf tried to sound philosophical as the final results of Tuesday's balloting in the city were distributed by the Stoddard County clerk's staff. "At least we know what the people want," he said.

But based on the solid rejection of the proposed half-cent sales tax, it appears the voters indicated what they don't want -- a new swimming facility in one park, a walking trail in another and low registration fees for youngsters taking part in the city's sports leagues.

Only 670 city voters in the three wards cast ballots on the sales tax issue, turning down the proposal by a vote of 377-293.

Fifty-six percent of those marking a ballot said "no" to the tax.

Metcalf, the only Dexter city government representative on hand at the Stoddard County Courthouse to watch the returns of the special election, said the split on the parks and recreation funding issue was almost identical to the result of the voting several years ago on a tax that would have financed a community center for the largest municipality in Stoddard County.

Meanwhile, the vote results were more enjoyable for officials of Liberty Township and the Dudley Special Road District, each asking voters to continue a 35-cent property tax for the maintenance of roads. Voters in the Dudley Special Road District overwhelmingly supported the issue, 46-26. In Liberty, the maintenance fee was in doubt until the final precincts -- Bernie City and Bernie Rural -- came in.

Liberty Township's fee was barely reauthorized for another four years by a vote of 414-390 (51.5 percent to 49.5 percent).

Dexter officials had hoped for and encouraged a significantly larger turnout on the sales tax issue. A non-profit organization, the Friends of the Parks, was formed to promote the measure, which was estimated to generate between $400,000-$500,000 a year.

Voting was fairly close in Ward 1 and 2; but voters in Ward 3 overwhelmingly rejected the issue, 102 against to only 41 in favor. Ward 1 voters leaned against the sales tax, 93 to 83, and in Ward 2, the most populous ward and the bellwether of the three wards on most city ballot issues, voters said "no" on a vote of 170-152.

Ironically, the absentee ballots -- often a good indicator of the final results in an election -- favored the sales tax, 17-12.

Metcalf, who had been the leading vocal supporter of the issue, said the tax rejection means parks department personnel will be faced with some tough decisions. "We're probably going to have to increase sign-up fees (for youth activities), which we didn't want to have to do," he said.

Another option might be to set different registration fees. "We might have to charge different fees for out-of-town residents and in-town residents," he said. A significant number of youths who take part in the park's athletic events live outside Dexter.

But of primary concern to Metcalf is the Dexter Swimming Pool, which is heading toward the end of its 30th year of operation. It might also be the pool's last year of operation, he noted, pointing out that problems continue to plague the crumbling structure. "Dexter might be without a swimming pool after this year," he said.

As the final results were distributed, the parks official lamented the rejection of the sales tax. "This was a golden opportunity for the residents of Dexter to see something good happen," he said.

Jackie Jackson and Charlie Jennings, two of the three trustees of Liberty Township, were uneasy about the reauthorization of their political subdivision's maintenance fee until the final precincts' votes had been counted. Dexter voters' sentiments about the half-cent sales tax apparently carried over to Liberty's maintenance fee. It failed in all three Dexter wards (but only by one vote in Ward 2) but won by a vote of 60-24 among Dexter Rural precinct voters.

In Bernie, voters approved it 14-4 and Bernie Rural voters favored the fee 24-7.

Voters in Pyle precinct also supported the fee 14-5.