Shiner voters approve higher sales tax, current council makeup

Shiner voters approved a 1-cent sales tax increase Saturday, while also voting to retain their current councilmembers, unofficial election night returns showed.

Regarding the city’s proposition to raise the city sales tax to 8¼ cents per dollar spent, voters passed the measure by a vote of 169-94, according to Shiner city secretary Natalie Fric on Saturday night.

The measured raised the sales tax charged on local purchases from its current 7¼ cents per dollar spent, with that additional 1 cent going to the city to use part of its annual budget outlays.

Shiner was one of the only cities of similar size that charged another amount besides 8¼ cents per dollar. Much of that tax charged—6 ¼ cents of the 8 ¼ assessed in most places in Texas—goes to the state of Texas. Just two pennies of that tax remain with the town where a purchase was made.

Unofficial election night returns showed that election day ballots brought in the most votes (74 for and 31 against) with early ballots in a close second at 71 for and 45 against. Absentee voters supported the measure 24-18.

The council race led off Mayor Fred Henry Hilscher uncontested for his seat, winning 236 votes for his return to another term.

Of the three men running for the two open seats on the council, Councilmen David Schroeder and Greg Murrile will be returning to their posts, the two winning 206 and 123 votes respectively (47.8% and 28.5% of the votes, respectively), to edge out challenger Wayne Denson with 102 votes (23.7%), unofficial elect results showed.

Councilman August “Gus” John Jaehne went unchallenged for Egon Barthel’s unexpired seat, collecting 235 total votes, unofficial results showed.