Council advances quarter-cent sales tax referendum

9.75% proposal heads to an Aug. 31 vote, council fills three boards, and begins search for District 1 school board member

7:27 a.m. Aug. 18, 2026

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

Moore County voters could vote again on the local sales tax this November after the Metro Council voted 11-2 Monday to advance a proposed quarter-cent increase.

The council also made three board appointments and began the process of filling the District 1 school board seat.

One more vote before the ballot

The council approved the proposal on first reading. If it clears one more council vote, voters will be asked whether to add a quarter-cent to the local sales tax, raising the total rate from 9.5% to 9.75%.

The council cannot raise the tax on its own. Voters must approve it. The council needs one more vote before Sept. 9 to put the question on the November ballot.

Voting yes were Peggy Sue Blackburn, Robert Bracewell, Gerald Burnett, Douglas Carson, Amy Cashion, Marty Cashion, Bradley Dye, Dexter Golden, Greg Guinn, Jimmy Hammond, and Shane Taylor.

Arvis Bobo and Sunny Rae Moorehead voted no.

Houston Lindsey and John Taylor were absent.

The council scheduled a special-called meeting for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, to take up the sales tax proposal again.

Explaining the quarter-cent

Much of Monday’s discussion focused on whether voters understand what the quarter-cent would mean at the cash register.

Carson noted that the increase would amount to another 25 cents on a $100 taxable purchase.

Speaking from the gallery, Rodney Ervin told the council he had previously voted against the proposal because he did not understand what the tax was for. He said he later voted for it after learning more.

“I had no clue what it was for,” Ervin told the council of his first vote.

Council members acknowledged voters have seen the tax question before. Moorehead opposed putting it back on the ballot, saying the county had already spoken. Others argued voters should get another chance after learning more about how the tax works.

Bracewell suggested mailing an explanation to county residents. Blackburn suggested putting the information in Moore County Utility Department customers’ monthly bills.

For now, the question remains one council vote short of the November ballot. The Aug. 31 meeting will determine whether it moves forward.

Three boards get new members

The council also appointed Tara Gross to the Planning and Zoning Commission, Peyton Keller to the Utility Board, and Michelle Parkin to the 911 Board.

All three were approved without opposition.

District 1 school board seat is open

Moore County also needs someone to fill the District 1 seat on the Board of Education. Ed Cashion did not seek re-election after serving 12 years.

The council announced the opening Monday and plans to appoint a new member at its regular meeting next month.

Anyone interested can contact a Metro Council member, the mayor’s office, or the director of schools’ office.

A nominee must attend the meeting when the appointment is considered or provide a written statement saying he or she is willing to serve.

A candidate needs eight council votes to win. If no one gets eight, the candidate with the fewest votes is dropped and the council votes again. The process continues until someone gets eight votes.

That gives District 1 residents interested in serving about a month to raise their hands.