STANFORD – As of 4 p.m. Monday, no petition had been filed with the number of signatures needed to put the ambulance tax rate on the next general election ballot.

The deadline to file a petition at the Lincoln County Clerk’s Office was Sept. 26 – 45 days after the Lincoln County Ambulance Board voted to set the real and personal property tax rates for 2016-17.

With no petition filed, Lincoln County Property Valuation Administrator David Gambrel said the real and personal property tax rate of 9.8 cents per $100 of assessed value will stand and only one tax bill will have to be printed.

If, at any point, the state determines the rate to be illegal – a concern that was raised at the last ambulance board meeting – Gambrel said the Department of Revenue has assured that neither the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office or PVA office will be held liable for the repercussions.

A petition committee filed paperwork on Sept. 15 with hopes of gathering the 916 signatures to put the question to a vote but only had until 4 p.m. Sept. 26 to file a complete petition at the clerk’s office.