Voters in two area counties rejected proposals that would have increased sales taxes in order to pay for public safety initiatives.

Referendums in Shelby and Douglas counties asked voters to consider raising sales taxes in those counties. Both initiatives would have raised the sales tax by one-half of 1 percent.

Voters in Shelby County were asked whether to impose the sales tax for crime prevention, detention and other public safety purposes.

Shelby County Sheriff Mike Miller has said the tax would help supply the Shelby County Dive Team and Shelby County Rescue Squad with needed equipment.

The safety tax would have been similar to surrounding counties and cost consumers 5 cents on every $10 spent. Certain items would have been exempt from the tax.

Shelby County voters overwhelmingly turned down the measure, which was rejected with an unofficial vote of 6,591 no, or 65 percent, to 3,492 yes, or 35 percent.

The Douglas County referendum would have generated an estimated $800,000 a year designed to provide funding for additional ambulances and safety improvements for the county jail.

It was rejected by a narrower count of 4,197 no, or 52 percent, to 3,839 yes, or 48 percent.

County Board Chairman Chuck Knox has said the county isn't likely to put the measure back on the ballot for the foreseeable future. Both measures had been on the ballot in the past.

The Shelby County referendum has been rejected twice before, including in the November 2006 election, while Douglas County voters turned down the idea in February.

Other area counties, including Macon and Moultrie, have enacted public safety taxes.

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