Jonesburg voters on April 7 unanimously approved a five-percent bed tax to be added to hotels, motels, short-term rentals and bed and breakfast inns in the city.

According to unofficial vote totals, 32 voters (84 percent) were in support of the bed tax, which is something that visitors pay when they stay in temporary housing. A total of just six voters (16 percent) were against it.
With voters approving the bed tax, the City of Jonesburg will impose the tax on its tourism facilities whenever it gets any. Currently, the city doesn’t have any hotels. The Jonesburg Board of Aldermen voted in May 2025 to put the hotel tax in place, then found out it had to be put on the ballot.

Also, Montgomery County voters approved to exempt eligible taxpayers from tax increases on their primary residence above the liability incurred during the initial credit year. A total of 680 residents (71 percent) voted yes, while 278 (29 percent) were against it.

There were close finishes in the Montgomery City and New Florence alderman races. Shannon Brock defeated David Turner 39-32 in the Montgomery City Ward II Alderman race. Michelle Fortmann retained her New Florence Ward I Alderman seat as she beat Louis Johnson 21-19.

Richard Wilson and Paula Adams won contested races for Wellsville Ward I Alderman and Ward 2 Alderman, respectively. Wilson defeated Bob Maxwell 25-2 to retain his seat as Ward I Alderman, while Adams defeated Burton Smith 44-25.

Kim Clements, Mary Ellen Shanks and Gary Eatherton were reelected as members of the Montgomery County Health Department Board of Trustees. Chad Scholfield, Melissa Beabout and Katherine Taylor were elected as new members of the Wellsville-Middletown R-I School District Board of Education.

There were uncontested races for High Hill Ward I Alderman (Steve Devlin), High Hill Ward II Alderman (Charles Fischer), Jonesburg Mayor (Bob Sellenriek), Jonesburg Ward I Alderman (Brian Williams), Jonesburg Ward II Alderman (Bobbie Russell), Montgomery City Mayor (Mike Spirz), Montgomery City Collector (Jill Dunlap), Montgomery City Ward I Alderman (Tom Benney), Middletown Alderman At-Large (Tristan Speagle and Cody Fischer) and New Florence Ward II Alderman (Jason Carter).

The voter turnout in the county was 11.92 percent (1,005 of 8,434), a drop of more than five percent from the 2024 general election (17.26 percent). There were polls in Bellflower, Jonesburg, Big Spring, Montgomery City, Wellsville, New Florence, Rhineland and Middletown.

Montgomery County Clerk Carole Weeks said the turnout was low at most of the precincts, except Rhineland/McKittrick, which had a 22.93 percent turnout, higher than the countywide average.
“The turnout is often influenced by what is on the ballot, and this cycle included fewer high-profile or contested races, which can contribute to lower participation,” she said.

Weeks said during Election Day, she was asked by voters about the certification process. All election night results are unofficial and additional ballots are reviewed and counted only if voter eligibility is verified. Election authorities complete a formal canvass, which is where valid ballots are finalized and totals are reviewed for accuracy.

“Once this process is complete, the local election authority certifies the results, making them official,” Weeks said. “In short, only ballots from eligible voters that meet all legal requirements are counted, and results are not final until the certification process is complete.”