Perry County approves capital-improvements tax

Perry County voters overwhelmingly elected to extend a three-eighth-cent road-and-bridge, capital-improvement sales tax.

Voters first approved the tax in 2004 and extended it for another six years in 2010.

This year, 83.65 percent of voters, a total of 3,372, chose to continue the tax for another nine years.

Perry County commissioners said extending the tax for nine rather than six years would save on election expenses.

County officials said the sales tax has fueled numerous road and bridge improvements over the years. Funds generated by the tax are used to construct, maintain and upgrade roads and bridges.

The commission has promised a portion of the tax dollars will be used to overlay previously paved roads, repair and replace more bridges and improve visibility along county roadways. Money also will be spent on grading and maintaining existing gravel roads.