Jerauld County voters say no to opt-out

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WESSINGTON SPRINGS — Jerauld County voters rejected a $450,000 eight-year opt-out Tuesday for road and bridge improvements.

The unofficial count of ballots showed 391 votes against the opt-out and 355 in favor.

An opt-out means a local government has made a decision to opt out of state-imposed limits on annual property tax increases. An opt-out allows local governments to collect more taxes per year than those limits would otherwise allow.

The opt-out was adopted by Jerauld County commissioners, but members of the public petitioned it to an election.

The opt-out was sought in part to allow the county to reconstruct 221st Street, a four-mile stretch from state Highway 281 to Alpena. The road supports heavy semi- and other truck traffic to and from three large businesses in the area.

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