(KAIR)--A controversial Atchison County sales tax will soon be a thing of the past, as voters Tuesday gave approval to a separate sales tax to replace it.

The unofficial results of Tuesday- ballot question show 3,107 Atchison County voters saying yes to the new tax while 2,252 voted in opposition.

Atchison County voters were asked “shall Atchison County be authorized to impose three-fourths of one percent sales tax countywide,” replacing the current sales tax in funding joint communications and solid waste disposal. The .75-percent sales tax will expire in 10-years, as required by state statute.

According to County estimates, the change will lower the sales tax in incorporated cities from 8.75-percent to 8.5-percent. The current sales tax in unincorporated areas of Atchison County stands at 7.75-percent, but will drop to 7.5 percent.

The current sales tax, approved in 1993 by voters, has long been a point of contention between the City and County of Atchison, with the two sides, since passage, unable to come to terms on the handling of the generated funds.