Voters in Perry County extend tax to fund infrastructure

Perry County voters approved by a nearly 60 percent margin Tuesday the extension of a tax to fund infrastructure repairs.

The question was whether to extend the existing three-eighths-cent sales tax that was set to expire March 3, 2017, 20 years after it passed originally. It will remain in effect for the next 20 years.

The funds raised from the tax will go toward major upgrades and repairs to Perry County’s historic courthouse and the Perry Park Center. The tax is expected to generate several million dollars to finance the repairs — which could cost up to $1.5 million — and make improvements to public parks and the county administration facilities.

Perryville voters also selected Wayne Keller for municipal judge, defeating Zachary Rozier. Keller won by 120 votes.

Mary Bauwens and Richard Dix were elected to serve on the Perry County School Board.

Bauwens, director of the Perryville Higher Education Center, has 29 years’ experience in education.

She said one of her top goals as member of the school board will be to continue the district’s rising Annual Performance Report score and provide more technology and space for the district’s students.

Dix, who formerly served on the school board in Farrar, Missouri, said the most important issue is to improve the quality of education and the overall MAP assessment scores in Perryville.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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