Residents in Jefferson County will head to the polls tomorrow to vote on a referendum that would raise their taxes over the next four years to fund the Countryside Home assisted living facility. The county is facing a three-point-five-million-dollar deficit and officials say expenses are exceeding revenues. If the referendum passes the public’s taxes would increase by sixteen-point-five-percent over the next four years and all the extra tax money would be used to fund the facility. Since they are not mandated to run the facility, a no vote would force the county to put the six-year-old building up for sale. Once sold, the home would be run through the private sector and county residents would no longer be paying for its operation. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow.
