FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Voters in Washington County have rejected a sales tax increase that would have paid for improvements to the area's public transportation system.
Complete but unofficial results from Tuesday's election show that 64 percent voted against the tax increase.
The Northwest Arkansas Times reports that the tax would have raised about $7.5 million for transit in Washington County. Backers of the tax say it would have paid for expanded routes, more buses, faster service and better facilities.
The executive director of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission says the area needs a dedicated source of money to pay for public transit.
Critics of the proposal argued that rural residents of the county would be paying for a system that would not benefit them.
©2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
