Linda Mock Is Probate Judge; SPLOST Passes
Jasper County voters, with fewer than a third having a say-so, gave a ringing endorsement Tuesday to Linda Mock as probate judge and decisively decided to keep the local sales tax rate at 7 percent.
Judge Mock handily carried all seven county precincts to defeat Justin Owens 1,317 to 408, a 76-24 percent margin, and hold onto the position she acquired earlier this year. The long-time clerk of Probate Court was appointed to the judgeship following the death of Kathy Tyler on Sept. 1. The special election gives her the judgeship through 2008, Judge Tyler’s unexpired term.
On the tax question, 64 percent of those voting passed a new special purpose local option sales tax, or SPLOST, of one percent for six years. The new levy will pick up next year at the expiration of a SPLOST approved some five years ago, primarily for Courthouse renovation and expansion and for fire protection. Most of the proceeds of the new tax will go to for road improvements with economic development and recreation also stipulated for a share of the proceeds.
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The levy approved is expected to bring in some $6 million, plus matching funds anticipated from the state for various road projects. County commissioners will set road improvement priorities with work to proceed on a pay-as-you-go basis. This plan contrasts with the previous SPLOST where the county borrowed money to complete the Courthouse project and sales taxes fell short of repaying bonds. Money from the new levy cannot be specifically appropriated to fill that gap.
With approval of the extension the county’s total sales tax load continues at 7 percent—4 percent state, a 1 percent permanent levy divided between the county and municipal governments to offset property taxes, 1 percent for schools, and the 1 percent SPLOST.
Voters in six of the seven precincts favored the SPLOST extension, with those in Smith, Jordan & Lazenby in eastern Jasper voicing rejection by a 37-35 margin. The most enthusiastic approval came at the Martin & Burney precinct, the county’s most populous outside Monticello and the one that includes Turtle Cove, where the approval margin was 74 percent.
Overall the vote for approval was 1,097-611, with 1,708 ballots cast. The total includes 116 absentee ballots and 240 cast on machines mostly by residents using the early voting provision but including a few traditional absentees who cast ballots at the Courthouse.
By conventional standards the 28 percent turnout was considered good for an off-year election. Voting on the pleasant fall day went smoothly and unhurried, with no problems in tabulating despite some changes in the touch-screen machines made for security reasons.
Shady Dale
In Shady Dale, long-time mayor Jim Striplin did not seek re-election. Don Heaton was elected mayor and will take over leadership of that city.
Elected to City Council were Karen Bryan, Steven Champion, Deanne Greenway, Jeanette Samoray, and Louise Westbrook.
