Voters in New Franklin rejected the city’s hope for a property tax increase. Proposition 1 failed 70-57 during the Tuesday, June 2 election.

The measure would have increased the city’s property tax levy to $0.3482 per $100 of assessed valuation.

The election drew a sparse voter turnout, with only 127 people voting on the tax. New Franklin and Franklin had a turnout of just 8.44 percent of registered voters. Countywide, fewer than 17 percent of voters cast ballots.

All three incumbents running for seats on the New Franklin R-I Board of Education were successfully re-elected. Jeff Chitwood led all candidates nearly a third of all votes cast with 129 votes. Sam Hackman and Jud Evans tallied 111 and 87, respectively. Challenger Dan Dobson secured 65 votes.

For the city council’s first ward, incumbent Tyler Eaton defeated challenger Sylivia Durbin 26-20. Todd Baslee was uncontested in his re-election bid for the council’s third ward. No candidates had filed for Ward II. However Robbie Harvey received the majority of 11 write-in votes.

In Franklin, incumbent Tammie Hundley-Wilderson took four out of five votes to defeat challenger Shay Young for Ward 1 alderperson. Incumbent Paul Hines faced no opposition for Ward II.