Library tax cut approved in Bollinger County

Bollinger County residents voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to roll back the local library tax, with 62 percent in favor.

That means the tax will go from 20 cents per $100 of valuation to 10 cents. The final unofficial tally was 1,110 to 675.

Although area election judges predicted a light turnout Tuesday, participation seemed lively, one observer said, and the interest appeared to surround downsizing the library tax.

Absentee ballots initially showed Bollinger County voters did not want to cut the tax, with 35 "no" votes to 26 in favor.

Several precincts also showed disapproval until the Zalma precinct was counted, with 109 votes to cut the tax to 51 votes against. Marble Hill's margin against cutting the tax was slim -- 290 approval votes to 299 "no" votes.

Leopold, Patton and Sedgewickville precincts came solidly in favor of cutting the tax, tilting overall support in favor of a tax reduction.

"I regret that the voters of Bollinger County voted to return the library tax back to the 1947 level," said library board president Bill Hopkins. "However, we will continue to serve the county at a much lower level. The cuts will be made as soon as possible.

Wanda Rhodes, chairman of the Concerned Citizens of Bollinger County, did not respond to calls for comment.