Parish and school district officials breathed a sigh of relief when election results came in Saturday night showing that Winn voters had approved continued taxes for parish road maintenance, school district maintenance and millage for a $6 million bond issue in the Dodson/Sikes District 11.

The overall margin of approval on the three was 2-to-1.  As the tax questions were the only issues on the April 27 ballot, election officials were not surprised that voter turnout was relatively low.  Of some 8,420 registered voters in Winn, 1,494 cast their votes absentee, early or in-person Saturday on the Police Jury’s 10-year, half-cent sales tax for road maintenance.  Saying “Yes” were 1,013 (68%) and “No” were 481 (32%).

The number was 1,490 for the School Board’s parishwide 10-year, 9.25-mill school maintenance tax.  That’s a 17.7% voter turnout which saw 996 (67%) in support, 494 (33%) opposed.

Percentage turnout in Consolidated School District No. 11 was slightly higher at 19.3% but since only registered voters in the Dodson/Sikes area could participate, total turnout of 246 was considerably less.  That result was 155 (63%) in support of the $6 million, 20-year bond call for capital expenditures. Board officials cited the same 15 mills currently levied to pay general obligation bonds.  There were 91 votes (37%) against.