Elida approves gross receipts tax

Elida residents approved a gross receipts tax 39-11 Tuesday with about half of registered voters casting ballots in municipal elections.

Some 56 of 113 registered voters turned out to vote for mayor, village council and municipal judge. Only the village council and municipal judge seats were contested.

“The people of Elida support what the (city) board tries to do to make the town better.” Elida Municipal Clerk Sandra Monks said. “The board is thinking eventually it will pay off to have that tax.”

The gross receipts tax is for one-sixteenth of 1 percent, or a penny, and takes effect July 1. Incumbent councilor Kay Nuckols said it’s really not going to generate a lot of money.

“It is the same tax that I think Portales and Clovis have,” Nuckols said. “We don’t have that much businesses in Elida other than Allsup’s and Dixon Oil Company, but every little bit helps and maybe we will accumulate enough money to do something with it.”

Nuckols goals include improving Elida’s streets and getting a community center for the residents.

Nuckols was re-elected with 42 votes, along with Steven Barron who got 41 votes for the two at-large city council positions.

Kent Graves was elected municipal judge, beating incumbent Darrell Chenault, 31-24.

It was Graves’ first time seeking office .

“Everyone should participate in some form of government,” Graves said. “I was there when they were counting the votes. In a judgeship there really are no issues of political importance. A (judge) sits and hears cases and I hope to be fair in the judgment of things that go on.”