The elections keep coming in rapid succession for the residents of Blaine County.
On Feb. 14, some voters will have their say in whether the school district in Fairview should float a bond issue. Although Fairview is in Major County, some voters in Blaine fall under their purview, mostly those who are outside Okeene toward Ames.
The bond questions are $1.84 million for school buildings and separately $160,000 for transportation. Very few voters in Blaine County will see that ballot.
However, almost all who go to vote that day will determine how an existing tax is collected. No new tax is requested.
The county has for many years collected a quarter-percent (.25%) sales tax for the benefit of the fire departments. That collection had to have continuing resolutions so that it could continue to be collected.
That meant every few years the fire chiefs had to put their heads together and have the question written, ballots printed and go to the people for funding.
It also meant the departments weren’t really able to plan for more than a year or two at a time because they were unsure whether the funding would be there to accomplish the plans they made.
The Feb. 14 vote will not change the amount of collections or on what it is collected. The question is whether the collection should continue without a sunset date or if the residents want to vote on it every other year.
While no new taxes are implemented, the question, should it pass, would go into effect Jan. 1, 2023.