The number of deciding votes for Poplar Bluff’s use tax measure shrunk even more Friday, when the certified election results were released. The unofficial count had four more ‘no’ votes than those in favor, but the final count took that to just a two-vote difference.
The city will now seek a recount, city manager Matt Winters said.
The use tax failed 377-379, or by 0.26% of the vote, after the final canvass of the ballots was completed by the Butler County Clerk’s office. Tuesday’s unofficial count originally had the votes at 377-381, or just over one-half of one percent.
“I have worked with (Butler County Clerk) Tonyi Deffendall for 10 or 11 years and I have the complete and utmost respect for her, her office and their staff,” Winters said. “I think they do a tremendous job. But with the margin being only two votes, we really feel like we have the responsibility to request a hand count of those ballots. The process is in place that allows for that and allows for us to request it. That’s how our election process works and we just want to take advantage of what we’re allowed to do under the rules of the Missouri election laws.”
Winters said the request for the recount could be filed by Poplar Bluff city attorney Mark Richardson as early as next week.
“I know that we, as the city had to file a petition to request that hand count with the circuit judge,” Winters said. “Our city attorney will be preparing that documentation and submitting it — and probably (will do so) the first of next week. So it’s on their timeline and I’m not sure how long they have to do that once it’s submitted — but I would imagine with the low turnout that we had, that it probably wouldn’t be a lengthy process.”
The proposed use tax would tax certain internet purchases at the current city sales tax rate of 2.25%, a move that many feel would neutralize an unfair advantage that online retailers — such as Amazon — have over local brick-and-motar retailers.
Deffendall was not available for comment Friday.