Rice County Sales Tax Question Defeated

Rice County Commissioners received permission from the state to place a sales tax question on the General Election 2024 ballot.

The intent was to get people outside the county to help pay for the approximately 50 million dollar Public Safety Center.  Big ticket items like vehicles would have been exempt as well as food and clothing, but a majority of Rice County voters were not in favor of the funding method.

That means higher property tax dollars will be needed from Rice County property owners.

With all 31 precincts reporting the vote was 17,911 no, 53.06% to 15,842 yes, 46.94%.

Faribault totals were 4,180 yes to 4,963 no with all four precincts rejecting the idea.

Northfield totals were 6,758 yes to 5,593 no with all but one precinct in favor of others assisting in picking up a portion of the building cost.

Some did not favor it saying it would add to their cost of living.

It was voted down in all Rice County townships also.

Jim Purfeerst retained his District 1 seat on the Rice County Board of Commissioners receiving 3,661 votes, 55.14% compared to Erik Sahlin of Nerstrand with 2,954 or 44.49%.  There were 24 write-in votes.

Commissioner Galen Malecha of Northfield ran unopposed in District 2,

Jeff Docken decided not to continue on the board as the representative in District 5.  Charles Peters of Lonsdale was the only person to pursue the position and got 6,166 votes, 98.73% of those cast in the district.  There were 79 write-in votes.

Timothy Flaten is the Mayor of Morristown after garnering 204 votes, 39.01% of those cast.  Three other people were also vying for the position.

Connie Medeiros got 165 votes, 31,55%, Tony Lindahl, 109 votes, 20.84% and Richard Carel, 42 votes, 8.03%.  There were 3 write-ins.

Four people wanted to be on the Morristown City Council.  Two seats up for election.  Anna Nusbaum achieved 369 votes, 39.47%, Val Kruger, 215 votes, 22.99% then Jake Golembeski with 204 votes, 21.82%.  Dale Dulas received 142 votes, 15.19% with 5 write-in.

Unofficially 81.4 percent of registered voters in Rice County cast ballots.  4,222 registered on election day and there were 11,707 mail and absentee ballots.

Keith Allen, Republican Kenyon area farmer is the new State Representative for District 19A which includes Faribault, Kenyon, Wanamingo, Nerstrand, Morristown, and Janesville communities.

Allen won every precinct defeating Jessica Navarro of Faribault 13,367 to 7,311.

There are 14 precincts in Rice County, 6 in Waseca and 6 in Goodhue County included in the district.

Republican Brian Daniels decided not to seek the office.