The extension of Henry County’s special-purpose local-option sales tax passed narrowly in the November 5 election, while Sunday brunch alcohol sales were approved by comfortable margins in all county jurisdictions.

  According to an election summary report posted late in the evening on election day, fewer than 1,000 votes provided the margin of victory for what is commonly known as SPLOST V. A total of 8,588 yes votes, or 52.77 percent of the total votes cast, paved the way for the continued collection of the one-cent tax, which is expected to provide slightly more than $200 million over five years.

  The no votes totaled 7,687 out of 16,275 in all. That last number means about 140,000 registered voters stayed home and sat out this election.

  The only other issue on the ballot for voters in unincorporated Henry County was the extension of Sunday alcohol sales, made possible by the so-called “brunch bill” which recently passed in the Georgia General Assembly. The bill allows municipalities, upon passage of a voter referendum, to begin Sunday on-premises alcohol sales and consumption to begin at 11 a.m. rather than 12:30 p.m. which was previously allowed by law.

  The margin of victory was more than 20 points in the unincorporated portion of the county, with 60.53 percent voting yes on the brunch bill. Voters within the city of Locust Grove were almost as enthusiastic, with 59.40 percent voting in favor.

  The vote wasn’t that close in the other three cities. The yes votes amounted to 64.28 percent in Hampton, 61.62 percent in McDonough and 66.39 percent in Stockbridge.

  Another measure on the McDonough ballot was a non-binding question regarding whether residents wanted county court facilities moved out of the downtown area surrounding the square, which has been suggested by some county officials due to space limitations and safety concerns. Just over 60 percent of city voters expressed their opposition to that idea.