Hand Count Confirms Vote on Rialto Tax
A five-vote margin of victory for a ballot measure that imposes a $10-million utility tax on Rialto property owners has been confirmed by a hand recount, election officials said Wednesday.
The measure, which was on the ballot June 3, won with 1,649 yes votes versus 1,644 no votes.
Former Rialto Councilman Ed Scott, who contends that the 8% utility tax will hurt city businesses, challenged the results and demanded a hand recount. He paid about $850 for the recount.
On Monday, volunteers from the League of Women voters spent four hours examining more than 3,000 ballots, with San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters Scott Konopasek overseeing the procedure.
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