 All this month get any smartphone 32gigand under for 50% off regular price at Appalachian Wireless. Better service, bigger savings, that's today's Appalachian Wireless. While supplies last, two-year agreement required. The proposed insurance premium tax in Letcher County is dead for now. In a four-hour meeting Monday night in Weizberg, the Letcher Fiscal Court voted unanimously to not accept the first reading of the proposed insurance premium tax ordinance. The second time in a week the court has shot down their proposal. Judge executive Jim Ward who lobbied for the passage of the tax or some other plan to plug the county's projected $1.3 million budget shortfall and who also voted along with the court to not accept the reading said the measure is now dead. Ward said the county would not have enough time now to pass the tax ordinance and it become effective. But out of the long meeting came the suggestion from Letcher County Sheriff's Deputy Barry Engle to consider an occupational tax instead of the insurance tax. The large crowd at the meeting reluctantly embraced that alternative plan. On a large scale all of them prefer the occupational tax so you know if that's what they prefer that's what we'll get but I'm afraid that the occupational tax won't go either. People packed in for the meeting meaning speaking in opposition to the proposed insurance tax and others taking the fiscal court to task for the county's financial standing. It doesn't matter how you got here. It doesn't matter who did what or who voted for what here. Fix it. I don't care how you pay my tax share of taxes. I'll work. My husband works. We don't care how you pay your taxes. So you are not given as a long term solution. I'm already taxed enough. I can pay the tax but I don't want to pay any more taxes. Ward said the fiscal court will have to decide soon upon a plan to address the budget shortfall. He added that he is fearful that the court will also defeat the occupational tax, leaving the county with fewer options. If it dies too and this is dead, that's our fault. Once we eliminate all revenue sources, local government completely shuts down. Although during Monday's meeting, the Letcher County REC Center was discussed, with some saying the center should be sold and others saying that it is too valuable to the community to give up. The court took no action on the REC Center. Ward said another special fiscal court meeting will be called soon to consider an occupational tax. Reporting in Weizberg for EKB News, I'm Chris Anderson.