Bullard city leaders held a special meeting Thursday to get moving on the half-cent sales tax referendum. The meeting -- while brief -- was necessary to abide by the legalities of setting up an economic development tax.

And while Mayor Connie Vaughan said the turnout was a disappointment, the rest of the council was pleased.

Mayor Pro-Tem A.W. Hines is pleased with the voters' support and said he was proud of the forward-thinking citizens.

"This is going to help Bullard's ability to attract tourism and fund infrastructure. And it would effectively put the city on a level playing field when it comes to sales tax collection rates," Hines said.

Hines said most cities have to go through this election more than once before it passes -- citing Tyler and Jacksonville as examples.

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"The residents of Bullard are smart," Hines said. "And they realize the importance of this sales tax."

Official voting totals were canvassed and approved at the meeting: 192 for and 72 against the measure.

City Manager Larry Morgan is ready to get to work now that voters have spoken.

"We're very pleased the voters had faith in this," Morgan said. "The money will be used - at least initially - to enhance and in some cases restore our infrastructure."

The process of setting up an economic development corporation will take place immediately, Morgan said.

"Even though the money won't be collected until about March, the council has given me the authority to form a committe to create a board for the new EDC.

Morgan said once the committee winnowed the list, it will be presented to council for aprroval

In some cases, the mayor is allowed two appointees and the rest of the council each appoint one to the EDC board. A president oversees the meetings, creating a budget and asnwering to the board -- who in turn -- answers to the council

Morgan said that until more volume comes in, he will, most likely, serve in that position -- in addition to his manager duties..

Bullard - until the election - was the only area city not using the half-cent tax.

Tyler, Whitehouse, Troup and Jacksonville charge the state maximum of 8.25 percent. Bullard's rate is 7.75 percent.

Hines and other council members were glad to see it change.

"Every city around us can compete, but without any incentives or proper infrastructure, where does that leave Bullard?" Hines said.

But he hates the word tax.

"It's completely consumption based," Hines said. "Most of us have - unwittingly funded a lot of infrastructure and improvements in other cities - it's about time they reciprocated.

"Every time we shop in Tyler, we're funding their parks and streets, but we're not doing anything about ours," he said. "The sales tax in Bullard is the lowest in the area - which means every other surrounding city is taking advantage of taxable consumer goods and services to aid growth."

One the EDC is created, it follows the same regulations as council meetings, as far as compliance with Open Meeting Laws.

"We usually have the directors and a media representative there," Morgan said. "We plan to be very open about this -- just as we try to do with everything else the city does."

Council member Stacey Thompson expressed her approval.

"That's exactly how it should be," she said.

In other business, the council granted the Tyler Bicycle Club an endorsement on its annual East Texas Hills Classic Road Race. David Starett, club representative, spoke to the council - who in turn agreed the event would be good for Bullard.

The race is widely known as the "Beast" of the "Beauty and the Beast: tour. It will begin at Kiepersol Estates this year on July 15. The race offers more than $3,000 in prize money and is a TXBRA Texas Cup Division I event.

For points/rules information visit www.txbra.org. Additional race details are available at www.tylerbicycleclub. com or www.bikereg.com.