CHARLESTON -- Mississippi County voters decided they would rather pay a higher sales tax now than pay interest later. They approved a one-half of 1 percent increase in their sales tax that will last for three years. The County Commission said the revenue will be earmarked to build a new courthouse to replace the one that burned Feb. 10.

In addition, voters in Mississippi County who don't live in incorporated areas voted to form one big water district where none had existed before.

Eight-hundred-thirty-nine voters favored the sales tax, while 640 voted no. The vote for the water district was 356 to 137. The turnout was 16 percent of eligible voters.

First District County Commissioner Homer Oliver said he feared that proponents of rehabbing the old courthouse would defeat the measure, "but that wasn't the issue." He said that whether the old one is reconstructed or a new one built, the county would still need the revenue to pay for it, or it would have had to dig into general revenues.

Mississippi County Clerk Junior DeLay estimated the tax will raise about $190,000 per year, or $1.17 million.

Oliver said the commission plans to finance the new courthouse using a lease-purchase agreement and fire insurance money. Had it failed, the commission would have had to enter into a longer-term and more costly lease-purchase arrangement.

The County Commission has already appointed a governing board for the water district, Oliver said. That board plans to file for a federal loan to finance construction of a water system serving areas that now rely on wells. The board may float revenue bonds to cover construction costs not paid for with federal money.

Oliver said the quality of well water varies in the county, with some being far too hard and some having high bacteria levels.

In Stoddard County, voters in Public Water Supply District No. 1 elected Jerry Jenkins and Steven Brown as directors. Jenkins received 30 votes, Brown 42, while a third candidate, Gary Dowdy received 26.