Margaret and Bobby Owen vote at the Archdale Public Library early Tuesday. Assisting them are Norma Vestal (on computer) and Frances Wall (background). This is the first time computers have been used in all 40 precincts in Randolph County. They were used at times during early voting, but not for regular voting days. It’s much faster than looking up voters’ names in the large ledgers. SONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE
Of the 4,178 who cast ballots Tuesday, 54 percent voted for the sales tax referendum, according to unofficial results. The special election turned out about 5 percent of the county’s 85,605 registered voters.
“I’m so appreciative of the people in the county who expressed their vote of confidence that we can help make a difference in these tough economic times,” Randolph Community College President Bob Shackleford said. “We are going to take this support, and we are going to use it to give back to the county. I’m just incredibly grateful because this is a very conservative county that does not easily raise taxes for anything.”
Matt Trogdon, deputy
election, 2A
director of the Randolph County Board of Elections, said his office did run into some technical problems Tuesday night that delayed precincts from reporting results until about 9 p.m.
“We ran into a couple of issues where folks were trying to drive in, and we had some folks who couldn’t send their stuff in by modem,” Trogdon said. “We actually had to enlist the help of the sheriff’s department to go out and pick up some of the stuff ... because of the weather.”
Karen Nix and Maggie Rumley, a member of the Randolph Community College Student Government Association, were among Archdale residents who cast their ballots at the Archdale Public Library. Nix, who voted against the referendum, learned of the special election Tuesday morning by watching a local television station.
“I don’t think this is a good time to raise taxes on anybody, even through the community college needs to be enlarged,” Nix said. “Everybody is hurting right now.”
Rumley, who voted for the increase, said she learned about the special election during a presentation by Shackleford on the campus of Randolph Community College. Rumley said she supported the referendum because the college “needs the money.”
The additional revenue from the sales tax increase will be earmarked by the Randolph County Board of Commissioners to fund Randolph Community College’s capital needs. The college will use the funds to renovate the former Klaussner building, which was purchased in 2008. The work at the 46,000-square-foot building will double the space for its machinery and continuing education programs. The college also plans to put in place a new industrial engineering program, becoming the third college in the state to have such a program.
dignasiak@hpe.com | 888-3657
Try buying things online to avoid sales taxes altogether, or drive to the next county to do your shopping. Also remember food sales tax is lower, so at least buy the non food items elsewhere