By David Vitrano
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Voters in St. John the Baptist Parish rejected a proposed quarter-cent sales tax increase at the polls Saturday.

Nearly 60 percent of voters gave the thumbs down to the proposed tax hike, which would have benefited the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Department.

Had it passed, the tax increased would have generated about $2 million in revenue for the law enforcement agency.

Sheriff Mike Tregre proposed the tax increase to help pay for some of the equipment lost during Hurricane Isaac and to pay for additional officers.