Mayoral races, R-II tax measure highlight election

Posted 6/4/15

By Tim Schmidt Record Managing Editor Mayoral races in Warrenton and Marthasville and a proposed tax increase in the Wright City R-II School District are three of the ballot measures voters will …

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Mayoral races, R-II tax measure highlight election

Posted

Record Managing EditorMayoral races in Warrenton and Marthasville and a proposed tax increase in the Wright City R-II School District are three of the ballot measures voters will decide Tuesday.The field is crowded in some municipal races, as all three alderman seats are being contested in Warrenton. There also are alderman races in both Wright City and Marthasville and three candidates vying for two spots on the Warren County R-III School Board.Meanwhile, there are no municipal races in either Innsbrook or Truesdale and both candidates for the Wright City R-II School Board are running uncontested.Polls will be open Tuesday, April 7, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.Voters are required to show some sort of identification when they vote, according to Warren County Clerk Barb Daly. The most popular forms are a driver’s license or voter registration card.Daly is expecting a low voter turnout. She said only 70 absentee ballots had been requested as of last week. Last April, when the turnout was 14.28 percent, 132 absentee ballots were counted, Daly said.“Absentee ballots are not a big, hot item,” she said. “I’m hoping we have at least 14 percent. Right now, it’s not looking like a big turnout.”Two voting precincts will be combined for next Tuesday’s election, Daly noted. Voters in the Concord Hill Precinct and Hopewell Precinct will cast ballots at the American Legion Post 180 located off Highway 47 north of Marthasville.Daly stated the two precincts will be combined in anticipation of low voter turnout, the limited number of items on the ballot and the costs associated with running the election.Ballot measuresThe R-II school district is seeking to increase its operating tax levy by 49 cents. As part of the ballot measure, known as Proposition S, 10 cents of the existing levy earmarked for debt service will be shifted to the operating levy, resulting in a net increase of 39 cents to taxpayers.If approved, the district will use the additional funding to increase salaries for teachers and staff, move forward with a mobile learning device initiative, and expand early childhood services.A simple majority is needed to be pass the levy increase. The last time voters in the district approved an increase in the operating levy was 1993.In Warrenton, voters will decide whether or not the city should extend its western boundary by approximately 600 feet down the Interstate 70 corridor.City officials previously said it would likely take two more successful annexations before the city reached the Highway A/B overpass.April 7th Election


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