Cuba and Bourbon voters will determine city leadership as well as vote on a proposed no-tax-increase bond issue for their respective school districts during the April 7 municipal elections. Municipal seats on the ballot include Cuba mayor, Alderman Ward 1 (one and two-year terms), Alderman Ward 2 (two-year term) and Alderman Ward 3 (two-year term). 

Bourbon has only one contested election, which is for mayor.

In Cuba, incumbent Mayor Kevin Copling is seeking to renew his two-year term. He is challenged for reelection by current Alderman Ward 2 Pitts Lesesne.

There is a race for the one-year term seat for Alderman Ward 1 between incumbent Ray Mortimeyer and Dan Eidson.

In the race for the two-year term seat for Alderman Ward 1, incumbent Harold Halbert is being challenged by Louis Alan Raineri.

Alderman Ward 2 has two candidates running for the two-year term seat, incumbent Richard Hewkin is being challenged by Jeremy Rosemann.

Three are running for the two-year term Alderman Ward 3 seat, including incumbent Joyce Hartzell, who is being challenged by Chris Newcome and Ciara Kitchen.

City Marshall Doug Shelton and City Collector Kim Roedemeier are running unopposed for reelection.

Cuba R-2 Board of Education has three seats open and three candidates who filed for election. Jennifer Moreland, Renee White and Tammi Palmer filed for the three year term seats.

Current Alderman Ward 1 Johnny Nelson and Sky Huddleston are running for the two-year term seat in the mayoral election.

Incumbents James Naquin for Alderman Ward 1 and Mary D. Heywood for Alderman Ward 2 are running unopposed.

Cuba R-2 School District is proposing a no-tax-increase bond issue titled “Proposition K.I.D.S.” Bonds allow school districts to borrow money to use on improvement projects to the facilities.

A four-sevenths majority or 57.14 percent is required to pass the bond, and the tax rate will not change from 56 cents per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property.

If passed, the school district has prioritized projects such as completing upgrades on its heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system; repairing, replacing or paving parking lots; and renovating existing and adding restrooms.

Bourbon R-1 Board of Education has three open seats with three candidates for election. Ryan Cole, Sean Kaysinger and Stephen Waldron filed for the three year term seats.

Bourbon R-1 is also proposing a no-tax increase bond issue with a current tax rate of 93.5 cents per $100 dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property. To pass, the bond will need to receive a four-sevenths vote.

Priority projects include making safety and security improvements, repairing and replacing roofs and the HVAC system and making renovations to the district’s facilities.

County use tax

At the county level, voters may choose to approve a countywide use tax.

Currently, Crawford County’s sales tax only applies to purchases made at brick-and-mortar businesses within the county, but the proposed tax would extend it to online purchases made outside of the state.

Medicine, insulin or oxygen and small sellers like Etsy are excluded and the use tax rate will be the same as the current county sales tax rate. Residents will not pay both the use tax and sales tax on the same purchase.

If approved, revenue from the use tax will be split three ways: 60 percent shared between the two road districts, 20 percent to employee benefits and 20 percent to maintain county buildings.

SB3 property tax question

Crawford County SB3, if passed, will allow the county to limit property tax increases for qualifying homeowners on their primary residence. Property taxes on homeowners’ primary residences would not increase more than five percent per year.

The credit will not apply to rental properties, agricultural land, commercial property or second homes. It will also not eliminate property taxes or freeze them permanently.

If approved, the credit could reduce revenue for school districts, cities, fire districts, ambulance districts, the county and other taxing entities that rely on property taxes, causing them to need to adjust their budgets to maintain their services.

Both the use tax and SB3 require a majority vote to pass.

Polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day. Cuba voters, as well as those of Benton North, Benton South, Blue Springs, Delhi, Fanning and Taylor, will cast their votes at 202 N. Smith St.

Bourbon voters will cast their votes at 575 Elm St.