PERRY CO. OKs $9.5 MILLION FOR MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING

PERRYVILLE -- Perry County voters decided Tuesday to foot the bill for the proposed $9.5 multipurpose building.

The simple majority required was narrowly met with 3,521 people voting yes to 3,153 no votes.

The project, which will include an indoor swimming pool, library, gymnasium, exercise facility and performing arts center, will be financed through a half-cent sales tax, which will end in 20 years when the debt is retired.

Promoters hope to build the building around the existing swimming pool in Perryville City Park for $8.3 million.

Three-eighths of the half-cent sales tax will go to pay the debt service on the bonds that would be retired in 20 years. The other one-eighth cent will be used for expenses and will be imposed perpetually.

"Hopefully, this is something that will help the well-being of the county," Presiding Commissioner Karl Klaus said. "We had a cross-county committee that did a good job of looking into it and covering all the bases."

The issue will mean a cooperative effort between Perry County and the city of Perryville. Perryville will deed the facility site to the county for 20 years while the full sales tax is collected. City crews will handle all the maintenance.