Gun Barrel City voters voted against a property tax proposal by more than a three to one margin Tuesday.

Of 1,239 votes cast, 971 voted against the proposal and only 268 voted for it. If approved the proposal would have raised the city's property tax from zero to $0.2599 per $100 valuation.

Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Baade said the result of the election disappointed him, and that it would be difficult for the city to progress without a property tax being assessed.

The revenue would have been spent on improving roads and police and fire protection, city officals said. "It was the right thing to do for the city," Baade said. "It's a shame the citizens took that position."

Opponent of the property tax John J. Rigo said he voted against the property tax and encouraged others to do the same because he doubted the money would be spent as promised by city officials. He claimed the revenue would be spent on the "care and comfort" of city management.

"I believe it would have wound up in the pockets of special interest," Rigo said. Rigo said he particularly objected to Gun Barrel City building a new City Hall in recent years. He described the building as an "ego trip" for city officials.

Baade said the idea that city officials would not spend the money as promised distressed him. "That's just not true," he said. "If they don't trust us they should run for the council."

Baade said people packed the town hall meetings about the proposed property tax but, few people ever show up for council meetings. The council has trouble getting people to volunteer for committees and boards, and council members are often unopposed in elections, he said.

Baade said that Gun Barrel City is one of only three cities in Texas with populations of more than 5,000 that do not have a property tax.

Mayor Jim Braswell said the strong turnout by voters pleased him, and that he respected their decision. "The voters have spoken, and that is who I serve, the citizens of Gun Barrel City," he said.