Winfield voters wait for results on sales tax increase

The polls are closed, and voters in Winfield now must wait to see if the local sales tax will be raised to 7.75 percent.

Unofficial results from four of 13 precincts show 224 voters opposing the sales tax increase and 210 supporting it.

This was the second time in a year voters were asked to approve a quarter-cent increase in the sales tax to help pay for road repairs. Last April, about 53 percent of voters approved increasing the tax from 7.25 percent to 7.50 percent.

Voters in unincorporated Winfield Township also are waiting to hear if officials have been given permission to negotiate electric rates on their behalf.

Unofficial results from just one of 20 precincts show 112 voters approving the measure and 55 opposing it.

If the measure is approved, officials can bundle residential and commercial retail accounts to buy electricity in bulk from an alternative electric supplier, which will likely result in lower rates.