FARMINGTON — County residents overwhelmingly voted in favor of an ordinance that allows local governments to collect a gross receipts tax to pay for the area's emergency communications and ambulance services.

Voters approved the Emergency Communications and Emergency Medical and Behavioral Health Services Tax 3,873 - 356 on Tuesday, according to unofficial results.

The tax subsidizes about half the cost of San Juan Regional Medical Center's EMS program and pays for the San Juan County Communications Authority, which handles all 911 calls throughout the county.

The tax is .18 percent of all gross receipts throughout the county. It is expected to amount to $7.1 million this year.

The tax has been in place since 2003 when it was approved 2,341 votes to 670. Tuesday's vote gives local governments the ability to collect the tax indefinitely.

For more election coverage, continue reading The Daily Times.
Advertisement