Archived News

Sales tax increase fails in Swain County

Sales tax increase fails in Swain County

About 58 percent of voters in Swain County voted against increasing the sales tax from 6.75 percent to 7 percent.

Commissioners approved putting the referendum on the ballot to let residents decide on the quarter of a cent increase and said the additional revenue would be earmarked specifically for public education projects in Swain County. The sales tax increase would have raised an estimated $290,000 a year for the school system to use toward capital projects. 

Even though the commissioners committed to putting the funding toward education, some residents weren’t convinced that would actually happen. If it would have passed, a future board of commissioners could possible redirect the funding to other priorities. 

All four candidates for Swain County commissioner supported the referendum as long as it went to education. A similar sales tax increase for educational purposes passed in Jackson County this year during the primary election. 

 

Swain County Local Sales and Use Tax

Against 3,335

For 2,456

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.