The half-cent sales tax question to benefit the Hiawatha Community Hospital on the Nov. 5 ballot was defeated by 2 votes.
That became official after canvassing 40 provisional ballots by the Brown County Commission Monday morning revealed the final count: No-1,285 to Yes-1,283 to a packed room that included Hiawatha and Horton city officials, along with representatives from Hiawatha Community Hospital. Assisting with the vote canvassing were County Clerk Melissa Gormley, Deputy Clerk Dawn Boyles and Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill, who advised the commissioners on state statutes for reasons to dismiss a provisional ballot.
On election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, the final tally after counting all 18 precincts was 1267 No and 1264 yes votes. That Friday, an additional 7 mail-in ballots were counted, which brought the vote to No-1,270 to Yes-1,268 votes.