Voters in Beadle County have said no to an increased wheel tax, that could have helped Beadle County tap into 15-million dollars the State of South Dakota has available to help repair bridges. Voters in five wards across the county referred and defeated the proposed tax 1083 to 779 or 58-percent to 42-percent. The measure would have maxed out the wheel tax in Beadle County to five-dollars per wheel on up to 12 wheels. Now that the increase has been rejected, Beadle County Commission Chair Rick Benson says they will need to look at other options to maintain highway infrastructure…
The mill levy provided for by Senate Bill One could also be referred to a vote of the people. Benson says other options include simply closing unsafe bridges….
Beadle County has approximately 140 bridges and is responsible for all bridges over 20 feet in length with an average age of 71 years old. Five bridges have been closed. Voter turn out was just short of 19-percent. In 2007, a similar vote on a wheel tax failed 1420 to 1242 or 53-percent to 46-percent. Voter turn out eight years ago was 22-percent. Ward by Ward Results are below:
- Huron (last names A through L) Yes 361 (46.64%) No 43 (54.36%) Total 791, Turnout 18.51%
- Huron (last names M through Z) Yes 293 (39.70%) No 445 (60.30%) Total 738, Turnout 20.14%
- Ward 12 (Wolsey) Yes 89 (43.20%) No 117 (56.80%) Total 206, Turnout 18.25%
- Ward 15 (Byron) Yes 15 (24.19%) No 47 (75.81%) Total 62, Turnout 13.54%
- Ward 17 (Cavour) Yes 21 (32.31%) No 44 (67.69%) Total 65, Turnout 15.19%