MARION - In one of the closest races of the evening, Williamson County voters Tuesday narrowly approved a sales tax referendum that will benefit the five school districts in the county. The measure passed with 52 percent of the total vote and 64 of the 65 precincts having reported in the county (8,590 to 7,832).

Inclement weather delayed the final results.

Residents will now pay one penny on the dollar more in sales tax. That should translate to an estimated $7.5 million in added revenue per year for the school districts to use for the construction of new buildings and retirement of existing school construction debt. It also means a cost savings for residents in the form of property tax abatements.

"I don't know if ecstatic is a good enough word to use to describe how I'm feeling," said Carterville Superintendent Tim Bleyer. "Passing this tax is a huge accomplishment and it never would have happened without the wonderful support of parents, grandparents, business owners, teachers, union members and so many more people in Williamson County. We firmly believe it's the right thing to do for our children. Now it's up to us to follow through with our commitment to the voters."

Marion Superintendent Wade Hudgens said the vote was "closer than I expected," but he was relieved that the majority sided with the five school districts and agreed to pay the tax.

"There's no more need for talk. Now it's time for us to get to work," Hudgens said. "One of the first things I'll be doing is cutting the tax rate. We will then complete our design work and start construction on the new school in Creal Springs this spring. Later, we'll begin design work on a new high school."

For those residents who voted against the tax increase, Hudgens said he and the other educators hold no grudges.

"I think those folks are going to see the progress that is made and that we will indeed lower their property taxes. I can understand why people would be skeptical about that, but we're going to do it."

Not all reaction to the outcome of Tuesday's vote, however, was positive. Mayor Bob Butler, a staunch opponent of the one percent sales tax, was disappointed with the results.

"I'm hoping the tax won't be too devastating to our businesses here in Marion," Butler said. "One of our concerns is that our businesses will be put at a competitive disadvantage with businesses from outside the county. Other than Chicago, Marion and Herrin now have the highest sales tax in the state at 8.5 percent."

Butler said he's glad to see that youth will be served with better educational facilities, but is frustrated that the state has not carried out its primary responsibility of providing for school districts in need.