Voters approve pair of sales taxes

? Voters approved a pair of Baldwin City sales tax questions during the only election in Douglas County on Tuesday.

The first question, to extend a 0.5 percent sales tax in place since 1991, passed 347-186, or about 67 percent to 33 percent. It is to be used on infrastructure projects. The second question was a new .25 percent sales tax to fund “quality of life” projects, such as hiking and biking trails, and the vote was much closer. It passed 290-243, or about 55 percent to 45 percent.

There were 533 voters who cast ballots out of 2,895 registered voters, a turnout of 18.41 percent.

Among the infrastructure projects the money will be used for is the city’s portion of a $3.5 million upgrade of North Sixth Street, which is County Road 1055. It is a joint project with Douglas County.