Warrenton area residents on Tuesday voted down a sales tax proposition from the Warrenton Fire Protection District, taking district leaders by surprise with strength of the rejection.
A total of …
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Warrenton area residents on Tuesday voted down a sales tax proposition from the Warrenton Fire Protection District, taking district leaders by surprise with strength of the rejection.
A total of 3,881 voters within the Warrenton fire district weighed in on the sales tax proposal Aug. 4, with 1,394, or 36 percent, voting in favor and 2,433 voting against, according to unofficial results.
The fire district had sought a half-cent sales tax to rescue its struggling finances. The district’s budget is in dire straights after years of expanding its professional firefighter staffing, using a property tax that voters last approved in 2001.
Warrenton Fire Board President Malissa Booth said she had hoped voters would see the sales tax as a reasonable way to pay for fire service, especially since the proposal would also have decreased property taxes.
“It’s a disappointing loss to the department. These guys have needed an increase for years,” Booth said. “I can’t imagine running my business by budgeting with the income I was allotted 19 years ago.”
The district has already eliminated all unnecessary spending, Booth said, meaning very serious cuts will have to be considered without additional funding.
Among the options are possibly selling the fire station in Pendleton and laying off professional firefighters, who currently provide 24/7 coverage to the Warrenton area. Neither option is appealing, but those are the choices the fire district may be faced with.
Still, Booth said she has optimism that people in the community want to support their firefighters. District leaders just need to figure out a proposal that voters will accept.
Also on Tuesday, Warren County voters came out against a state constitutional amendment to expand Missouri’s Medicaid program, voting 2,621 in favor and 5,117 against.
In addition, voters decided competitive races for Republican party nominations for county and state offices. No democrats are running for local offices.
Matthew Flake won the Republican race for Northern District commissioner with 1,320 votes, over 47 percent of participating voters in his district.
Tom Meyer took an extremely tight win in a crowded race for Southern District commissioner, coming in just 12 votes ahead of his nearest competitor for the Republican race. Meyer received 884 votes, or 28.7 percent, while runner-up Tony Gagliano received 872 votes, or 28.4 percent.
In the race for Warren County assessor, Katie Smith won by a wide majority to take the office, with 4,012 votes, or 69 percent.
In the race to represent District 63 in the Missouri House of Representatives, Republican Richard West defeated Dale Schaper (3,748-2,011,including St. Charles County results).
West will replace Bryan Spencer, who was term-limited.
