Ozarks-area April 2 ballots include votes on marijuana taxes, school bonds, charters
With less than two weeks before municipal elections around the Ozarks, do you know what's on your ballot?
In addition to races for school board and city offices, voters in Springfield and surrounding communities will get the chance to voice their opinions on school bonds, marijuana tax and charter amendments on April 2 during the municipal elections.
Depending on where people live, there are different ballot measures they will be able to vote on. Here are ballot questions for Greene County, Christian County and Polk County.
Absentee voting began Feb. 20 and will continue until April 1.
To check if you're registered to vote, to view a sample ballot or to find out where you'll be voting, visit vote.greenecountymo.gov if you're in Greene County or visit the Secretary of State's Office website.
Greene County
Sample ballots are available at vote.greenecountymo.gov.
Fair Grove use tax: Voters in Fair Grove will decide whether to impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax. If the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate will be reduced or raised by the same action.
Springfield City Charter amendments: There are two Springfield City Charter amendments on the ballot this year.
One allows voters to decide if the charter should be amended to require enactment of a code of ethics, which would be reviewed by the city council at least once a year. It would also revise a provision to address employee violations with disciplinary action up to and including termination and add a legal defense to the forfeiture of office or termination of employment if a prior, written advisory opinion from the city attorney was obtained and relied upon in good faith.
The other charter amendment would allow for the mayor to serve a four-year term instead of a two-year term. The four-year term would apply starting with the first 2025 general municipal election. The mayor would still be limited to eight consecutive years of service.
Republic Proposition G: Voters in Republic will be able to decide whether to impose an additional 3% sales tax on the retail sale of non-medical adult-use marijuana.
City of Republic Charter amendments: There are six amendments proposed to the City of Republic's charter.
If approved, the first would change the charter so that the mayor would no longer appoint the city attorney, but rather the city administrator would appoint the city attorney. It would also set minimum qualifications and duties for the city attorney and set the term of employment for the city attorney.
The second proposes amending the charter "to establish a schedule for the election of councilmembers to staggered four-year terms at the general municipal election to be held on even years."
The third proposes amend the charter to clarify that a vacancy in the city council should be filled for the remainder of an unexpired term, if any, at the next regular municipal election with expiring seats on the ballot.
The fourth proposes establishing requirements and procedures for the first and second reading of ordinances by title during a single open council meeting, and for final passage of an ordinance as part of the consent agenda at an open council meeting.
If approved, the fifth would repeal charter section 7.6 and add a new subsection to section 7.3 that would make capital planning part of the annual budget.
If approved, the sixth would repeal Section 10.3, which would allow administrative management of temporary permits issued for public utilities operations to be in line with the Republic Municipal Code.
More: Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce endorses city charter changes on April 2024 ballot
Christian County
Sample ballots are available at www.christiancountymo.gov/offices/county-clerk/sample-ballots.
Ava R-I School District question: Voters will decide whether the Ava R-I School District will be authorized to increase the operating tax levy ceiling to $3.01 per $100 of assessed valuation. The increase would pay for capital projects such as an early childhood center and storm center. The increase would terminate automatically in 2049.
Billings marijuana tax: Voters will decide whether to impose a 3% sales tax on all retail sales of adult-use, non-medical marijuana sold in the city. The tax would be used "capital improvements and operations of public safety services."
Clever R-V School District question: Voters will decide whether the Clever R-V School District shoiuld issue general obligation bonds, not exceeding $16 million, in order to acquire, construct, renovate, improve and equip school facilities, including "(1) constructing, improving, furnishing and equipping additions to the elementary-middle school campus and the high school, (2) making safety and security improvements to school facilities, and (3) acquiring title to school facilities and/or prepaying all or a portion of existing lease obligations. If the proposition is approved, the levy is expected to remain unchanged at $1.2578 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property.
Highlandville marijuana tax: Highlandville voters will decide whether to impose a 3% sales tax on all retail sales of adult-use marijuana sold in the city.
Nixa marijuana tax: Voters will decide whether to impose a 3% sales tax on "all tangible personal property retail sales" of non-medical adult-use marijuana sold in the city.
Sparta R-III School District question: Voters will decide whether the Sparta School District is allowed to increase the operating tax levy ceiling to $3.2788 per $100 of assessed valuation, which would support the district's general operating expenses, including ongoing programming expenses and increasing compensation for staff and employees.
Republic Proposition G: Same as Proposition G in Greene County.
City of Republic Charter amendments: Same as City of Republic Charter Amendments in Greene County.
More: MO school board seeks censure of member who campaigned against own district's tax levy
Polk County
Sample ballots are available at https://polkcountymo.gov/county-clerk.
Annual election question: Multiple ballots are proposing that cities or villages may be allowed to forgo any annual elections if the number of candidates who filed for particular office is equal to the number of positions to be filled. Voters in the Flemington and the R-II Fair Play Schools - City districts will answer that questions on their ballot. Voters in Pleasant Hope will decide whether the city is allowed to forgo any annual election if the number of candidates who filed for a particular office is equal to the number of positions in the office that are to be filled by the election for the next six years.
Bolivar School District bond proposition: Votes will decide if the Bolivar R-I School District should issue $11 million of general obligation, which would be used for acquiring, constructing, renovating, improving, furnishing and equipping school facilities, "including but not limited to (a) installing safety, security and technology infrastructure, (b) renovating, improving and expanding existing school facilities, (c) improvements for career education classes and (d) expanding playgrounds, including all-inclusive updates, at existing school facilities." The question says that if the proposition is approved, the current levy is expected to remain unchanged at $0.7761 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property. This will be on the following ballots:
R-1 Bolivar Schools;
R-1 Bolivar Schools-Fire;
R-1 Bolivar Schools Ward 1;
R-1 Bolivar Schools Sp. Rd. Dist.;
R-1 Bolivar Schools Ward 1 Sp. Rd. Dist.;
R-1 Bolivar Schools Ward 2 Sp. Rd. Dist.;
R-1 Bolivar Schools Ward 3;
R-1 Bolivar Schools Ward 3 Sp. Rd. Dist;
R-1 Bolivar Schools Ward 4 SP Rd. Dist.
Central Polk County Fire Protection District Proposition 1: The proposition asks if a specific area, which is currently being served by the Halfway Volunteer Fire Department, should become part of the Central Polk County Fire Protection District. This issue will be on the R-1 Bolivar Schools-Fire and R-3 Halfway School District ballots.
Halfway School District bond proposal: Voters in the R-3 Halfway School District will decide whether to approve the issuance of $850,000 of general obligation bonds that would be used to renovate, repair, furnish and equip school sites and buildings, including improvements and upgrades to plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, improvements to parking lots and gym floor renovation. If the proposal is approved, the levy is expected to remain unchanged at the $0.7298 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and person property.
Pleasant Hope marijuana sales tax: The city of Pleasant Hope will vote on whether to implement a 3% sales tax on the sale of adult use marijuana, which would support construction of sidewalks within Pleasant Hope city limits.
Proposition - Public Safety: This item asks whether Bolivar should increase the general local sales tax rate by 0.75% until Dec. 31, 2039, which would go toward public safety and emergency preparedness. This issue will be on the following ballots:
R-1 Bolivar Schools Sp. Rd. Dist.;
R-1 Bolivar Schools Ward 1;
R-1 Bolivar Schools Ward 1 Sp. Rd. Dist.;
R-1 Bolivar Schools Ward 2 Sp. Rd. Dist.;
R-1 Bolivar Schools Ward 3;
R-1 Bolivar Schools Ward 3;
R-1 Bolivar Schools Ward 3 Sp. Rd. Dist;
R-1 Bolivar Schools Ward 4 SP Rd. Dist.
Proposition KIDS: Voters in the R-II Fair Play School District and the R-II Fair Play Schools City will vote on whether to approve the Proposition KIDS, which would allow the school district to borrow $1.9 million to construct secure entrances, replace exterior doors, upgrade access control systems, replace heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and upgrade lighting to LED; to replace cafeteria equipment; to replace windows, remodel restrooms and construct covered entryways at the elementary school's north and south entrances; to construct a secure, enclosed walkway between the elementary school and middle building; to install air conditioning in the Vo Ag shop; to make improvements to the softball and baseball fields; to purchase land for additional parking; and to complete other repairs and improvements to district facilities. If approved, the school district levy is expected to remain unchanged at $0.7385 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Here are the issues on April 2 ballots for Springfield and beyond
