By Rick Phelps

Brownwood and Early voters have spoken and agreed that converting from an economic development corporation (EDC) to a Municipal Development District (MDD) is needed.

At the polls, voters from both municipalities overwhelmingly approved the termination of the current system, the EDC, and abolishing its sales and use tax, currently at the rate of one-half percent and simultaneously authorizing the creation of the MDD with the imposition of a sales and use tax within the incorporated city limits. “This is not a new tax,” said Early City Administrator Tony Aaron in an earlier interview. “There is no more money being collected. This is simply the same amount of money going from one type of economic entity into another.”

Mayors and city council members from Brownwood and Early researched the proposed economic conversion, with both groups agreeing the formation of an MDD would be more beneficial for their respective communities.

In Brownwood 389 voted in favor of the conversion, with 93 voting against. The result was much the same in Early with 88 voters agreeing with the conversion and 11 voting against.

Shawn Russell, executive director of the Early Economic Development Corporation said she was pleased with the results. “I think this is going to give the city of Early a lot more opportunities to fund economic development projects and develop growth, jobs and quality of life.”

The conversion to an MDD means most projects allowable to be funded via the EDC will continue, but will now also include community projects such as retail, affordable housing, convention facilities and certain community projects.

With the approval of the voters, the next step in the conversion will be to abolish the EDC, complete all necessary paperwork and have the MDD in place by Oct. 1, according to Brownwood City Manager Emily Crawford.

In Bangs, voters were tasked with choosing from six candidates to fill three open seats on the city council. Winners of that race were Larry Williford with 57 votes; Carrol Wells with 45 votes and Larry Loman with 41 votes.

Blanket ISD voters were faced with deciding trustees for Places 3, 4 and 5. The winner of Place 3 was Beth Bowyer with 157 votes, followed by Vicky Godfrey Jenkins with 155 votes. Place 4 winner was Sherry Gill with 145 votes, followed by Janis Kinkade with 138 votes and Robert Menchaca with 32 votes. Russell Wigham was the winner in Place 5 with 162 votes, followed by Ronnie Davis with 151 votes.