ST. LOUIS —
April 2 is General Municipal Election Day in Missouri. Franklin County voters are considering candidates and ballot measures for their county, city or town.
Many cities are electing mayors, aldermen, school board members and more. Learn more about the candidates in their own words via survey results compiled by the League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
5 On Your Side is highlighting some of the ballot measures and the larger races with more than one candidate below. Look up your ballot at Vote411.org.
Plan your vote with Vote411.org.
Franklin County races
Cities, fire districts and school districts are holding elections on municipal offices and proposals for tax changes. This list is alphabetical by municipality and focuses on races with more than one candidate. If this list is missing a race you're interested in, look it up at Vote411.org.
Berger Proposition
Simple majority required.
Ballot wording: Shall the City of Berger impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate, currently 7.975%, provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action? A use tax return shall not be required to be filed by persons whose purchases from out-of-state vendors do not in total exceed two thousand dollars in any calendar year.
Summary: The proposition would establish a city tax on out-of-state purchases equal to the city government's sales tax. The revenue would be used to help provide city services. Supporters say imposing the tax would put local businesses on a more even playing field with out-of-state firms.
Gasconade County R-I School District Proposition I
Four-sevenths majority required.
Ballot wording: Shall the Board of Education of the Gasconade County R-1 School District, Missouri borrow money in the amount of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) for the purpose of providing funds for the site development, construction, equipping, and furnishing of an Agriculture Shop expansion; to complete energy efficiency upgrades; to remodel Elementary School classrooms and the High School auditorium; to the extent funds are available, complete other repairs and improvements to the existing facilities of the District; and issue general obligation bonds for the payment thereof? If this proposition is approved, the adjusted debt service levy of the School District is estimated to remain at $0.9030 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property. If this proposition and Proposition N are both approved, the adjusted debt service levy of the School District is estimated to decrease by $0.3000 from $0.9030, currently, to $0.6030 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property.
Summary: The district wants to borrow $5 million to make major improvements and repairs in various school facilities. If passed, taxes would not increase. Projects include expansion of the agriculture shop, remodeling of the high school auditorium and elementary school classrooms, completing HVAC upgrades and repairing roofs, roads and other infrastructure.
Gasconade County R-I School District Proposition N
Simple majority required.
Ballot wording: Shall the Board of Gasconade County R-1 School District, Missouri, be authorized to increase the operating tax levy by $0.3000 to $3.6861 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation for the purposes of attracting and retaining qualified certified teachers and support staff, maintaining facilities, and meeting additional operating expenses? If this proposition is approved, the adjusted operating tax levy of the District is estimated to increase by $0.3000 from $3.3861, currently, to $3.6861 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation for the 2024 Tax Year and can be applied to the assessed valuation for each year thereafter. The District intends to reduce the debt service by $0.3000 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation in order to offset the estimated $0.3000 increase to the operating levy if this Proposition is approved by the voters, resulting in the total tax levy of the District to remain unchanged.
Summary: The district wants to reallocate taxes by reducing the debt service tax levy and increasing the operating tax levy by the same amount. If passed, overall taxes would not increase. The additional operating revenue would be used to increase salaries for teachers and support staffers and cover facility maintenance costs and other operating expenses. Proponents say the measure would help the district attract and retain employees and meet other needs without increasing taxes.
Gasconade County R-II School District Proposition GCR2
Four-sevenths majority required.
Ballot wording: Shall Gasconade County R-II School District issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of $16,500,000, estimated to result in no increase to the District’s debt service property tax levy, for the purpose of constructing, improving, renovating, furnishing, and equipping school facilities, including but not limited to safety and security upgrades across all District facilities, facility upgrades at Dutchmen Field, OHS and OMS gymnasiums, construction of an annex at the high school to provide additional classrooms for expansion of education in vocation and technical skills and expansion of fine arts programs, and to provide a multi-purpose space to serve as an auditorium and a storm shelter? If this question is approved, the District's debt service property tax levy is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.67 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property.
Summary: The district wants to borrow $16.5 million to make safety and security upgrades, improve high school and middle school athletic facilities, construct an annex with additional classrooms, an auditorium and storm shelter, and make other improvements. If passed, taxes would not increase.
Meramec Valley School Board
Voters choose two candidates.
Mary Clasby-Agee
Age: Not provided by candidate
Occupation: Retired teacher and administrator
Public elected offices held: Meramec Valley R-III Board of Education, 2009-present
What are your top three priorities?
Student success, high quality staff, facilities.
Laura Riegler
Age: 42
Occupation: Licensed clinical social worker
Public elected offices held: Meramec Valley School Board, 2023-present
What are your top three priorities?
1) Financial responsibility. 2) Promoting success for all students. 3) Safe schools.
Brian T. Steel
Age: 44
Occupation: Business development director
Public elected offices held: None
What are your top three priorities?
Students: we are responsible for preparing them for the world, to contribute to our communities and become self-sufficient individuals. To attract and retain the next generation of educators, we must find a way to increase their pay and benefits for working in Meramec Valley R-III. Remain open to community, students, teachers and staff for criticism and ideas.
Clint (Allen) Tindall Jr.
Age: 38
Occupation: Insurance agent
Public elected offices held: None
What are your top three priorities?
1) Ensure our kids have access to a quality comprehensive education. 2) Fiscal responsibility. 3) Improve teacher retention.
Dustin Walsh
Age: 37
Occupation: Real estate broker/salesperson
Public elected offices held: None
What are your top three priorities?
I'd like to help improve the school system national ranking. I'd love to see more kids enjoy going to school every day. I'd like to help provide an atmosphere that doesn't allow students or parents to feel like they can't offer input to the school board.
New Haven School District Proposition C.A.R.E.
Four-sevenths majority required.
Ballot wording: Shall the Board of Education of the New Haven School District, Missouri, without an estimated increase in the current debt service property tax levy, borrow money in the amount of Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000) for the purpose of providing funds to upgrade and install heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and automation control systems; to address structural repairs at the high school; to the extent funds are available, purchase school buses, acquire or replace technology equipment, and complete other renovations, repairs and improvements to the existing facilities of the District; and issue general obligation bonds for the payment thereof? If this proposition is approved, the adjusted debt service levy of the School District is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.7500 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property.
Summary: The district wants to borrow $4 million to upgrade HVAC and automation control systems, make repairs at the high school, and to the extent funds are available, purchase school buses, upgrade technology equipment and make other repairs and renovations. If passed, taxes would not increase.
Spring Bluff School District Proposition C.A.R.E.
Four-sevenths majority required.
Ballot wording: Shall the Board of Education of the Spring Bluff R-XV School District, Missouri, with an estimated no tax rate increase in the current debt service property tax levy, borrow money in the amount of Three Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,100,000) for the purpose of providing funds to drill a new well; to renovate the Middle School; to remodel the small gymnasium/cafeteria by replacing exterior double doors; to renovate the kitchen; to remodel the cafeteria restrooms; to convert a storage room into a Nurse Station; to redesign administrative offices; to pave parking lots; to improve the large gymnasium by replacing the flooring, adding LED lighting, and replacing the bleachers; to replace all exterior doors; to construct an outdoor restroom; to the extent funds are available, complete other repairs and improvements to the existing facilities of the District; and issue general obligation bonds for the payment thereof? If this proposition is approved, the adjusted debt service levy of the School District is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.6882 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property.
Summary: The district wants to borrow $3.1 million to renovate the middle school, drill a new well and make various other renovations and repairs. If passed, taxes would not increase.
Union Proposition U
Simple majority required.
Ballot wording: Shall the City of Union, Missouri impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate, currently 2 percent, provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action? A use tax return shall not be required to be filed by persons whose purchases from out-of-state vendors do not in total exceed two thousand dollars in any calendar year.
Summary: The proposition would establish a city tax on out-of-state purchase equal to the city government's sales tax. If passed, about $376,000 would be generated annually to help pay for services such as road maintenance, sidewalks, police and parks. Supporters say imposing the tax would put local businesses on a more even playing field with out-of-state firms.
Read more at KSDK.com/guide
