( KNZA)--It will be next week before the final outcome of Tuesday's Brown County special election on half-cent sales tax initiative for health care services is known.
Unofficial results Tuesday evening showed the issue being defeated by a 35-vote margin, with 1,081 votes cast in favor to 1,116 votes against.
However, Brown County Clerk Melissa Gormley told MSC News there were 51 provisional ballots cast, and they will be considered when the Brown County Commission meets Tuesday, May 28 to canvass ballots from the special election. Provisional ballots are used to record a vote when there are questions about a given voter’s eligibility.
The County Clerk’s office reported a 37.4 percent voter turnout Tuesday.
Hiawatha Community Hospital CEO John Broberg, once the preliminary numbers indicated a defeat, issued a statement following an inquiry from MSC News.
We are very disappointed in the outcome of the election. It is hard to rationalize a NO vote that accepts the status quo for health care in this county. Plan B - we will be back visiting with the county to explore options for further tax support.
