Excess levies approved by small voter turnout

Local News

February 8, 2010

From Staff Reports

FAYETTEVILLE — Fayette County voters approved continuation Saturday of excess levies that provide funding for law enforcement, libraries and fire protection.

With the county still under a winter weather warning, turnout was light, but the levies were renewed for another five years by comfortable margins.

With all 39 precincts reporting, the totals were:

* Law enforcement — 1,197 (75 percent) for; 403 against.

* Libraries — 1,273 (79 percent) for; 331 against.

* Fire protection — 1,254 (78 percent) for; 350 against.

Each levy required 60 percent passage. In 2005, the last time the levies were up for renewal, more than 70 percent of the voters approved each of the three segments.

The levies, which have been in place for years, will provide about $2.8 million per year for all three areas, including $953,729 for law enforcement salaries and benefits, $435,654 for the county library system and $1,416,856 for fire protection and services.

Property taxes will not increase since the levies were already in place.

County Clerk Kelvin Holliday said turnout was less than 10 percent, and that included around 500 voters who cast their ballots during the early voting period.

“Let’s face it, it’s a pretty low turnout,” he said. “It was actually less than half of what we had for our October (school bond) election.”

Holliday said law enforcement, library and fire service representatives were pleased with the results.

“These are very important services in our community and each entity would like to express their gratitude for renewing their services for another five years,” he said.

Holliday said the only problem Saturday was that, because of road conditions, it took a little longer than usual to get the ballots to the courthouse from the precincts.