Published: November 06, 2007 11:24 pm      

Fairview voters nix tax

WESTWOOD — Voters in Westwood have said no for the second time in two years to a 3 percent tax on utilities.

The Fairview board of education had enacted the tax in February but opponents mounted a successful petition drive to get a recall motion on the ballot.

Unofficial vote totals show 744 votes in favor of the recall and 329 against.

A half dozen last-minute voters exiting the polls Tuesday all said they’d voted against the tax.

“That’s the only reason I showed up,” said Stephen Wurts. Utility bills already are too high, Wurts said.

“It’s the most rotten thing they could do,” said Mike Crisp. “I voted against it and I hope everyone else does the same.”

Poll workers said around 40 percent of voters in the four precincts making up the Fairview school district showed up and that most of them made the trip to the polls because of the utility tax.

Rejection of the tax was a crushing blow to a school board facing hard choices, particularly for upgrading its aging high school.

“I am thoroughly disappointed,” said board chairman Denver Rice. “If the people voted it down again, they’re not concerned about Fairview.”

Rice said without the revenue the tax would bring, the district is fated to be swallowed up by either Ashland or Boyd County.

He said property taxes would continue to go up as well, to meet district expenses. “I still can’t believe people don’t know that they’re costing themselves more money” by voting against the tax.

The board had contended the cost of the utility tax would be offset by promised cuts to property taxes.

Opponents disagreed, saying a preponderance of renters in the district wouldn’t get the benefit of reduced property taxes and elderly and disabled residents would bear an unfair burden.

The tax would have been levied on all gas, water, electric, telephone, cable and cell phone bills in the district.

The board enacted a similar tax in 2005; voters rejected that issue as well.

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.