Fairbank voters reject sales tax proposal

The plan could have increased spending on roads, police and fire protection by $8 million.

Former Mayor Steve Thompson, who supported the sales tax, said critics used scare tactics. He said the results will mean putting off needed road repairs.

Tuesday's election also narrowed the field for Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor to Luke Hopkins and Tammie Wilson. The borough assembly incumbents will have a runoff in November. Hopkins is a building maintenance superintendent and a director of the Alaska Gasline Port Authority. Wilson is a property manager.

Also, voters apparently want local control of clean air regulations, The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports. They are approving an advisory measure that asks the mayor and borough to establish a pollution prevention program.

The borough is under state and federal pressure to reduce winter air pollution blamed on wood-burning stoves.

Hopkins and Wilson have taken different approaches to the issue. Hopkins said work should start now on pollution-prevention plans.

Wilson said the clean air advisory vote is evidence that people don't trust the government.