Electors in Kiowa County have rejected – by a single vote – a measure to implement a 1.5 percent sales and use tax in the county.

Kiowa County Ballot Issue 1A was on the November 4 ballot. Voters cast 249 ballots for and 250 ballots against the measure according to unofficial results release by Kiowa County Clerk Adrienne Yates after polls closed election night.

The tight margin triggered an automatic recount, which was conducted by a bipartisan team of election judges Wednesday. Following the recount, the results were unchanged.

Had it passed, the tax would have gone into effect January 1, 2026, and would have raised an estimated $460,000 in its first year. The proposed tax would have continued for 15 years.

Funds were to have been used for general county purposed, and specifically for the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. Determination would have been made each year about how to spend future funds during the county’s regular annual budget process.

County voters have rejected two previous attempts to pass a sales tax, in both cases by wider margins.