Robeson County voters overwhelmingly voted to raise sales tax during a special election held on Tuesday, August 3.

Those supporting the sales tax hike cast 2052 ballots. Those opposing the increase cast 913 ballots.

The sales tax increase will be a trade-off for lowered property taxes, and during the 2010-2011 tax year, property owners should see real property valuations fall from 79 cents per $100 valuation to 77 cents per $100 valuation.

The sales tax increase was decided during a specially held election, meaning that the measure was the only issue before voters at the time. This ploy worked. When the issue was twice put before voters during general elections, both attempts were voted down by large margins.

The sales tax increase will boost the current 7.75 per cent tax to 8 per cent. It will go into effect at the end of January.

The increase is expected to add about $2 million to the County budget each year. $1 million of this generated fund will go toward jail expansion/improvements, courthouse renovations, development of a downtown parking lot in Lumberton, and the purchase of ambulances to improve emergency medical response. The other $1 million will be used to make the property tax cut possible.

The new money could also be used to just help balance future budgets, and County Commissioners have pledged to go slow in appropriating funds generated by the increase, which should begin to come in during the final six months of the next fiscal year.