Absentee ballots now available for Nov. 3 special elections

Area voters will decide school district bonding issues and whether to authorize tax rate increases in the statewide special elections Nov. 3.

Absentee ballots became available Tuesday at county clerk’s offices across the state for the special elections this fall. Voters are required to bring some form of identification and cite absence from the jurisdiction, incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability, religious beliefs, employment as an election authority or incarceration as a reason they cannot vote on election day in order to receive an absentee ballot.

Residents of the Windsor School District, which includes portions of Pettis, Henry, Benton, Morgan and Johnson counties, will vote on whether to allow the district to borrow $2 million and issue bonds to complete renovation, remodeling and repair improvements to district facilities.

If the proposition is approved, the district’s adjusted debt service levy is expected to remain unchanged at 50 cents per $100 of assessed valuation of property.

Benton County residents will also decide whether to authorize the extension of the current countywide sales tax by a half percent for the next five years. The additional income for the county would be used for road and bridge improvements, upgrading equipment and repairs and upgrades to county facilities.

Voters in Morgan County can weigh-in on whether the Versailles School District will issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of $8.29 million, a portion of which is expected to include qualified school construction bonds issued under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Gravois Mills residents will also determine whether to impose a half-cent capital improvement sales tax, which will be used on capital improvements and possibly the retirement of debt accrued under previously authorized bonds.

On the ballot in Saline County is a measure to determine whether to allow Marshall Public School District to incur $20.35 million indebtedness and issue general obligation bonds to acquire land, construct and furnish a new elementary school. The proposition is projected to increase the adjusted debt service levy for the district to 80 cents per $100 assessed valuation of property if accepted.

Slater School District residents will vote on whether the district can borrow $1.3 million to fund the construction of a new kindergarten and pre-kindergarten building. The property tax rate is expected to remain unchanged if the proposition is approved.

The last day for new voters to register to participate in the fall special elections is Oct. 7. People can register at the county clerk’s office and must bring identification containing their current address or identification and an accompanying proof of current address.