Sponsors of the Service Area #6 tax increase petition, Christie Watterson, Marci Hansen and Jennifer Castelli, filed a demand Monday at noon for the Summit County Clerk's Office to recount the petition signatures.

When the Clerk's Office verified the petition signatures, 250 signatures were thrown out, leaving the petition seven signatures short of the 2,118 required to halt the tax increase until voters could decide on the increase in the 2014 General election.

"This recount is one of the challenges to the clerk's decision provided for in state law," sponsor attorney Bruce Margolius said in a press release. "We are very optimistic that we can find the seven additional signatures we need and resolve the matter very quickly."

Property tax bills reflecting the new tax increase for Service Area #6, which taxes specific unincorporated neighborhoods throughout the county, are scheduled to mail to Summit County homeowners on Oct. 29.

County Deputy Clerk Ryan Cowley is unsure whether this will affect mailing the bills on time. "We're still talking to our attorneys to figure out what the process is. We're not even sure what kind of time frame we're working with at this time."

The petition against the larger tax increase, the Municipal Fund tax, however, was successful with a hefty 2,154 signatures.

According to previous statements by county officials, the Service Area #6 tax increase would have amounted to an additional $29.33 per year on a $498,000 primary residence in specific unincorporated neighborhoods throughout the county and an additional $53.32 for similarly valued second homes and commercial properties.

The Municipal Fund tax will cost owners of a $480,000 primary residence home in the unincorporated areas of the county an additional $64.41 and an additional $117.12 for second homes and commercial properties.

"I'm really thrilled the one passed," said Jacqueline Smith, who spearheaded the petition drive. "Of course, I'm really disappointed the other didn't. But I think it's going to be more disappointing to the people that live in Service Area #6."

Smith said she was originally told she would not be able to file for a recount, so was not one of the three of five petition sponsors who filed the request. "But a recount almost seems normal when it's that close."