Thursday, June 21, 2012 3:58 pm

There will not be a referendum on the Aug. 2 County General Election ballot to increase the local option sales and use tax.

Cannon County Executive Mike Gannon vetoed the resolution passed by the Cannon County Commission at its meeting June 12 to place the question on the ballot.

According to Cannon County Administrator of Elections Stan Dobson, Gannon issued the veto after he was contacted by Tennessee Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins and by Elisha Hodge of the Tennessee Open Records Counsel.

Both expressed concern that there was not adequate public notice of the commissioners’ action to place the question on the ballot. The resolution was not on the agenda for the June meeting.

Dobson said commissioners could place the question on the ballot for the Nov. 6 election if they vote to do so at their monthly meeting in September.

If it is on the November ballot, voters will be asked to increase the local portion of the sales tax from 1.75 to 2.75 percent.