Sequatchie County voters kick wheel tax to the curb

Sequatchie County voters overwhelmingly shot down a wheel tax referendum in a special election on Tuesday.

Election Commission reports show voters kicked the wheel tax to the curb by a landslide, 1,033 to 355, with almost 75 percent of voters rejecting the measure. The same tilt was reflected in early voting with almost 70 percent of voters saying no to the tax.

County Commissioners passed the final reading of a wheel tax referendum 13-1 on May 20 which was followed by a successful petition circulated among registered voters to place the measure on the ballot.

Officials said a $20 wheel tax would have generated the money to cover anticipated increased insurance costs for county employees under the federal Affordable Health Care Act estimated to stand at around $300,000 a year. About 70 of the county's 120 employees will have to be insured, officials estimated.

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