ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Brenda Pierce, the vice-president of the Central Baldwin Education Foundation was still jubilant Wednesday morning. According to unofficial results, the “Penny Tax,” a 1 percent increase in the sales tax in Baldwin county for the next 36 months passed, with 59.1 percent of the votes cast in Tuesday, March 23 election.

“With a tax, you never know how it is going to go,” said Pierce, who spent the evening with fellow tax supporters.

But about an hour and a half after the polls closed, Pierce said, “You could see how it was going to go.”

“We are so thrilled and excited,” said JaNay Dawson, interim Superintendent of Schools. “This speaks to the attitude the people of Baldwin County have toward quality education.”

Dawson added that she also felt the vote was a “validation” of the system’s principals and teachers.

“It says we have faith in the job you do,” said Dawson.

There was one surprise for Pierce.

“The wide margin by which it passed, did surprise me,” said Pierce.

Pierce said that the Baldwin County Commission has to ratify the results, something she thinks will happen May 1. Provisional and absentee ballots have yet to be counted, but she does not think that will upset the preliminary results. Those ballots will be counted Tuesday, March 30.

Pierce did not know when the money would begin coming to the schools.

“We are so appreciative,” said Pierce. “People heard the message.”