DUANE SHERRILLEditor

Moore County voters overwhelmingly rejected a sales tax increase after local leaders gave them a second bite at the apple months after they voted it down the first time.

The rejection was even bigger than it was back in March when Metro voters voted against the increase by a count of 590-378. This time it was shot down 2,234 to 1,259 as voters turned out in mass given the presidential race on the ballot. Local leaders got the question back on the ballot, maintaining that many voters had been confused by the wording on the March ballot.

Metro leaders put the question on the ballot first in March and most recently in November, asking voters to approve a quarter-percent sales tax increase from 9.50% to 9.75%. Some leaders who backed the increase noted that Moore County currently has a $0.0250 per dollar tax rate. Added to the state’s tax rate of $0.07 the total per dollar rate is $0.0950. The ballot issue was to raise the rate by $0.0025, for an effective rate of $0.0975. All other counties surrounding Moore County have a total per dollar rate of $0.0975. That is the highest tax rate currently allowed by Tennessee law. To put the failed increase in perspective, a $50 dollar item would increase by $0.18, a $350 dollar item would increase by $0.88, and the increase on a $1,200 item would be $3.

Proponents of the tax increase argued that Moore County sees well over 250,000 visitors annually compared to approximately 6,000 residents, meaning guests would spend the lion’s share in the Metro area.

Metro Mayor Sloan Stewart said, prior to the second vote, that the increase would have simply offset inflation but would not have increased spendable funds.