Emergency district voted down

TIKI ISLAND — Supporters of a proposed emergency services district to help pay for fire protection gained a couple of votes for their cause Thursday, but they were still four votes shy of victory.

Despite a full-court press from the outgoing and incoming mayors, voters rejected the proposal to create a special taxing district, 241 to 238.

A pair of mail-in votes added to the pro column count, but none of the 18 provisional ballots cast proved to be eligible to be counted, City Secretary Karen Hagerman said.

The vote tally will become official during a special called council meeting at 9 a.m. today at city hall.