LIBERTY – Concern about whether the public understood the need for the Clay County law enforcement tax disappeared in a landslide of support Tuesday. Residents approved the tax 7,919 to 2,307, or 77.44% to 22.56%, based on preliminary results. Before the election, the Sheriff’s Office had little time to inform the public about the renewal. Sheriff Will Akin, who took office in January, did not learn about the tax issue until August. The tax had not come up for renewal in 12 years and his office heard about the Nov. 2 voting deadline from the auditor, sheriff’s spokeswoman Sarah Boyd said Friday. The tax raises about $5 million annually for the law enforcement services the office provides countywide, Boyd said. Losing the income would have caused a severe blow to county law enforcement, she said. “That would be catastrophic,” Boyd said. Representing about 25% of the $20 million law enforcement budget, the income loss would have slashed services and personnel. “This tax is a critical…