Missouri voters will head to the polls Tuesday for the state’s primary election.While there are county, state and federal races on the ballot, Gainesville R-V School District patrons will consider whether to approve a 75-cent levy increase. It’s been 25 years since voters in the Gainesville School District approved a levy increase.
The increase would bring the school levy to $3.50 per $100 assessed property evaluation, meaning owners of houses assessed at $50,000 to $100,000 would pay about $73 to $143 more per year in school taxes. At $3.50, the new Gainesville levy would still be one of the lowest in the county. By comparison, Dora’s total school levy, including debt service, stands at $3.61.
Among other things, the increased operating levy would allow the Gainesville district to make safety and security improvements throughout both schools, including new high-security classroom doors. At the elementary school, the levy increase would replace the current 25-year-old heating-and-cooling system and create a 3,500-square-foot addition to serve as a storm shelter. It would also pay for roof repairs on the high school and replace failing floor tiles, ceiling tiles and lockers in the middle and high schools. A portion of the levee would also be dedicated in attracting new and qualified staff.
An open house is set for Monday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 at Gainesville Schools. In addition to touring the schools, enjoying a free dinner and meeting administrators and teachers, community members are invited and encouraged to attend informational meetings regarding Proposition Gainesville Bulldogs.
Two meetings are planned, the first at 6:00 in the junior high/high school and the second at 7:30 at the elementary school.
Also on the ballot in Ozark County, voters will make their selections for four locally contested races associate circuit judge, prosecuting attorney, presiding county commissioner and 155th District state representative.
The Ozark County Times reports candidates in uncontested county-office races are incumbents Brian Wise, running for clerk; Becki Strong, running for circuit clerk/recorder; and Phyllis Gaulding Turner, running for treasurer. Deputy county collector Darla Sullivan is running for the collectors job, succeeding longtime collector Bill Hambelton, who is retiring.
Voters will also decide whether to make Missouri a right-to-work state. The measure was originally set to appear on the November general election ballot.
The legislature sent the measure to former Governor Eric Greitens desk last year. He signed it and hailed the change as a way to boost job creation in Missouri.
Under the new law, workers could not be compelled, as a condition of employment, to join or to pay dues to a labor union.
But pro-labor forces collected 310,567 signatures on a petition calling for voters to weigh in on the change.
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