Nickel tax fails by wide margin

The Christian County School Board’s nickel tax failed by a wide margin in Tuesday’s general election.

The final tally was 9,301 against and 4,651 in favor, with all precincts going to the “against” voters.

Mark Graham of Citizens Right to Vote on Tax Increase says he believes the people sent a clear message that spending has to be reined in before they will support any tax rate increases.

Revenue from the tax increase would have serviced the debt on a new academic building at Hopkinsville High School and Superintendent Mary Ann Gemmill says she can’t imagine the board giving up on finding a new revenue stream for the project in the future.

She says that for now, the school system will use the funds it has to make repairs on existing buildings.

The Nickel Tax vote helped bring voter turnout above expectations, with 27 percent of Christian County’s registered voters casting a ballot.