SCOTT COUNTY DEFEATS SALES TAX MEASURES

BENTON -- Scott County voters soundly defeated a quarter-cent sales tax for the county government's general revenue fund and shot down a similar tax for senior services.

The county tax failed by a large 3,124-to-1,747 margin. The senior tax was defeated by a much slimmer 2,673 to 2,234.

The county sales tax would have cost residents 25 cents for every $100 in merchandise purchased and would have brought in about $700,000 a year to county government. That would have doubled the county's revenue from sales tax.

Scott County Presiding Commissioner Bob Kielhofner had said the county approved spending to repair 12 bridges deemed unsafe by the state and other road work last year, even though that meant running at a $289,074 deficit. In 1997, the commission approved additional spending for road work, the sheriff's department and the county prosecuting attorney's office, which caused a $431,516 deficit.

Kielhofner said he was afraid the tax wouldn't pass because it was not specifically earmarked to a project. The money would have gone initially to restoring the county's reserve fund.

A quarter-cent sales tax designated for the sheriff's department and a one-half-cent sales tax for a new jail were defeated by voters in 1995.

Scott County commissioners Dewaine Shaffer and Walter Bizzell were not available for comment after the election. Kielhofner said he was going to have to think seriously about the commissions's next step.

The county commission will meet Thursday morning to discuss its options.

The senior tax would have benefited programs providing transportation, programming and other services to senior citizens including nutrition centers, Scott County Transit and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

More than 10,000 people over 60 live in Scott County.

Marilyn Schlosser, project manager for Scott County Transit, said her organization may have to cut back on some services and will seek financing through other means.

"I guess the voters have lost the chance to extend a lot of programs for seniors in the county," Schlosser said. "I don't think there was enough information that got out to the people.

"I think the word tax did it in. It usually does."