Voters say YES for City’s Capital Improvement Plan; Watts elected to stay on BOE

Voters said yes to a $19 million investment for the City of Guthrie. With the approval, the City will begin investing into streets, a ladder truck, waste water treatment upgrades, city fleet and activities for youth and seniors.

The three-quarter of a cent sales tax proposal, with a 15-year sunset clause, passed 54.86 percent to 45.14 percent (531-437).

The election board will certify the votes by Friday. The city sales tax will increase from three percent to 3.75 percent beginning July 1. Overall, the county sales tax will increase from 8.25 percent to 9 percent within the city limits.

“The City of Guthrie would like to thank all the citizens of Guthrie who voted today. We are looking forward to the positive future of Guthrie and will work diligently to execute all the projects of the Capital Improvement Plan,” Guthrie City Manager Bruce Johnson told Guthrie News Page following the election results on Tuesday evening.

Voters who casted their vote prior to Tuesday’s election, through absentee mail and early voting, were primarily against the proposition with 61 no votes compared to 46 yes votes. Election day finished with 485 yes votes and 437 no votes in the nine precincts.

For a list of the capital improvements follow this link.

Watts voted in to stay on board with the Board of Education

Sharon Watts kept her seat on the Guthrie Public Schools Board of Education by collecting nearly 57 percent of the votes.

With 17 precincts reporting, Watts collected 56.87 percent of the votes over her challenger Mark Swartzbaugh, who gathered 43.13 percent (737-559), for the Ward 1 position.

“I am so proud and humbled by the support of my community,” Watts told Guthrie News Page following the election. “Thank you so much for your support. I will continue to work diligently for our children, faculty and community. Go Bluejays!”

In Feb. 2012, Watts defeated Swartzbaugh by a similar margin (54.14 to 45.86 percent) for the school board seat.