Voters in Ontario have voted down a one percent retail sales tax for their city.
City leaders suggested the tax after stretching funds to cover infrastructure and staffing costs.
"We have cut back on the amount of streets that we have chip-sealed, " Mayor Ron Verini said "We have eliminated our gang officer. We have eliminated two of our detectives."
The Ontario City Council voted to implement a one percent sales tax in Sept. 2017.
Opponents collected more than 2,000 signatures to put the issue up for a vote on the May ballot.
Verini said although a sales tax is an unpopular issue with residents, the lack of a sales tax draws Idahoans across the border to buy goods.
"All we are asking is for the community to pass a one percent tax that shares the burden of the expenses of our community over a wider range of people instead of just taxing ourselves, placing the full burden on our community," Verini said.
Voters disagreed Tuesday.
According to unofficial results, one percent tax failed on a 825 "Yes" to 1581 "No" vote.
