Blue River tax question narrowly passes

A somewhat confusing tax question was narrowly passed Tuesday by voters in the town of Blue River.

Referred Issue 2D garnered 120 “yes” votes to 116 “no” votes, or 50 percent to 49 percent, which also took top honors as the closest race in Summit County for the 2013 off-year election.

The measure imposes a 2.5 percent sales tax on its residents and was drafted in an attempt to capture lost revenues from local utility taxes Blue River officials believe are being diverted to the town of Breckenridge and Summit County.

Blue River officials think the newly passed tax will generate an estimated $47,000 in additional annual revenue for the town. Those funds will be used to provide services and maintain infrastructure, officials said last week.