Muskogee due recount after election decided by one vote.

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- Residents want a re-count in the city's sales tax election defeat after the proposal failed by one vote.<br><br>The election which would have increased the city's sales

Saturday, December 14th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- Residents want a re-count in the city's sales tax election defeat after the proposal failed by one vote.

The election which would have increased the city's sales tax by a quarter of a cent to raise $7.1 million over five years, failed with 2,043 votes for it and 2,042 votes against. The proposal would have funded civic center improvements and a downtown market square.

Local banker Jim Eaton filed a petition at the Muskogee County Election Board with more than 90 signatures and a $1,200 fee to challenge the results of a quarter-cent sales tax proposal

"We feel that $1,200 is a relatively small price to pay if in fact this does pass because it will be a long time in the future and the civic center will be in much worse condition the next time were going to be able to bring this up to any kind of vote at all," Eaton said. "It's too close. We need resolution."

A re-count is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Supporters of the quarter-cent tax proposal noted some discrepancies with the vote tabulation. The re-count may hinge on whether an absentee voters initials on a ballot can be counted as a signature.

State law indicates that absentee voters either sign their name or a mark on the affidavit, Muskogee City Attorney Steve Cousparis said.

"That's the debate," Cousparis replied.

Another city sales tax proposition on the same ballot got 15more total votes. That measure -- a three-fourths-cent tax to raise$20 million for sewer and water improvements -- was easily approved.