One tax passes, one fails in Chaffee

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The sales tax rate in Chaffee will increase by a quarter-cent starting July 1, voters decided Tuesday, lending their support for the tax for fire department operations but not for storm-water and park improvements.

According to unofficial results from Scott County, 316 residents cast a ballot in Chaffee, where 55 percent of the voters said "yes" to the sales tax increase. Collections from the tax, which could total generate up to $40,000 annually, would benefit the city's volunteer fire department.

"I think it's great that people saw the need and voted for it," Mayor Steve Loucks said.

Residents didn't see the need for an additional half-cent for storm-water or park upgrades, though, voting down the sales tax 175 votes to 141 votes.

City officials said revenue from the tax could have brought in up to $90,000, allowing them to tackle some of Chaffee's drainage issues.

Jim Haney, a resident of Chaffee for more than 20 years, said he split his vote on the measures Tuesday. He voted yes to a sales tax for fire operations, but no for storm-water and park upgrades.

"We need protection from the fire department and their turnout gear is bad," Haney said. "We [already] have a lot of taxes on water and sewer."

Chaffee voters passed a $12 million bond issue for water treatment in 2010.

Loucks, officially elected mayor Tuesday with 86 percent of the vote, said while he hoped the half-cent tax increase for storm-water and park improvements would have passed, he understand the people's rejection of the measure.

"The two of them together was a pretty big leap," Loucks said. "We're just going to move on and hope for the best going forward."

Voter turnout in Chaffee was light this year, which didn't surprise election judge Betty Nordin, working at the VFW, the only polling place in Chaffee.

They ordered just more than 800 ballots, she said, but only 200 people had voted by 4 p.m.

"I'm not surprised," Nordin said. "I guess the tax thing wasn't any more important than anything else."

ehevern@semissourian.com

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222 W. Yoakum St., Chaffee, MO