Special Election Tuesday in Johnson County

Tuesday Johnson County residents will cast votes for or against a special purpose one-percent sales tax to benefit facilities in Buffalo, Kaycee and the county.

The proposed one-cent tax will, if approved, boost the sales tax rate in the county to 7%.

The question is whether or not to implement a seventh penny sales tax to fund a number of facilities that are in need of upgrades or replacement.

The ballot measure is asking taxpayers for roughly $38 million, with $25 million going to projects and $13 million going to maintenance accounts for future upkeep on the facilities.

The projects include improvements at the fairgrounds, Jim Gatchell Museum, Buffalo Golf Course, Bomber Mountain Civic Center, Kaycee Library, Senior Center, YMCA, and building a recreation center in Buffalo.

Also part of the proposal is infrastructure in both Buffalo and Kaycee, and a maintenance savings account.

Polls will be open from 7am to 7pm today and voters can cast ballots at three polling places in the county: the Bomber Mountain Civic Center in Buffalo; the Catholic Rec Hall in Buffalo; and Harold Jarrard Park in Kaycee.

Sheridan Media will have the results from the special election as soon as they are available from the county clerk.