Steelville voters will determine leadership for the city and schools as well as vote on a proposed no-tax increase bond issue during the upcoming April 7 Municipal Election. Races for mayor, Ward 1 alderman and three open seats on the school board will be decided.

Incumbent Mayor Terry Beckham has served for six years and seeks to renew his two-year term. He is challenged for reelection by Duane DeRennaux.

A race for the two-year Ward 1 alderman term will be held between incumbent Alderman Curtis Crouch, who has served for four years, and Harry H. Martin Jr. 

Incumbent Ward 2 Alderwoman Lula Patterson and City Marshal Mike Sherman are running unopposed to renew their terms.

Steelville R-3 Board of Education has three seats up for election with four candidates vying for the spots. Expiring terms are currently held by Brad Brooks and Rachel Martin, who are running for reelection. Kyle Grayson and Michael Retkowski have also filed as candidates for the three-year term.

A no-tax increase bond issue for the Steelville R-3 School District is also on the ballot. Voters will decide whether to approve issuing general obligation bonds for $6 million “for the purpose of constructing, improving, repairing, renovating, furnishing and equipping school sites and facilities.”

If the bond issue passes, the additional funds will not increase the tax burden on local property owners. A bond issue is a way for school districts to borrow money used to finance significant improvement projects to facilities. In Missouri, bond issues require voter approval even if they will not raise the tax rate.

In order to pass, the proposition requires a four-sevenths majority, which is about 57 percent. 

Funds from bond issues can only be used for expenditures related to capital improvements. By state law, they cannot be spent on operating expenses such as salaries, textbooks, supplies, transportation, etc. 

If the bond issue fails, taxes do not decrease. The current tax rate of 77 cents per $100 of assessed valuation of real or personal property will stay the same regardless of if the issue passes or fails.

Should the bond issue pass, the district will implement a facilities improvement plan developed after a two-year assessment process conducted by a group of district staff, community members, architects and engineers. All of the district’s buildings were evaluated in order to identify a list of needs. 

The district has several priorities when it comes to use of the funds should the issue be approved. Elementary school renovations are at the top of the list, including asbestos removal, drainage repairs, window replacements and HVAC upgrades.

The high school’s gymnasium floor is also planned to be replaced and an ADA compliant parking lot will be put in at the high school. The district needs $6 million in bond proceeds to complete the list of projects.

County use tax

At the county level, voters will choose whether or not to approve a countywide use tax. This tax would be placed on all out-of-state online purchases made within the county at the same rate as the local sales tax. 

Crawford County’s current sales tax only applies to purchases made at brick-and-mortar businesses, but the proposed use tax would extend it to online purchases, excluding medicine, insulin or oxygen and small sellers like Etsy.

Residents will not pay the sales tax and the use tax on the same purchases.

If approved, revenue from the use tax would be split three ways: 60 percent would be divided among the road districts for road repairs, 20 percent would go toward employee benefits and 20 percent would be used to maintain county buildings in good condition.

SB 3 goes to a vote

Voters will also choose whether or not to approve Crawford County SB 3, which would allow the county to limit property tax increases for qualifying homeowners on their primary residence. If approved, property taxes on homeowners’ primary residences will not increase more than five percent per year.

The ballot question reads: “Shall the County of Crawford exempt eligible taxpayers from certain tax increases on eligible taxpayers’ primary residence above the liability incurred during the initial credit year?”

The credit applies only to eligible homeowners’ primary residence, which is the home they live in. It does not apply to rental properties, agricultural land, commercial property or second homes. The credit will 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. Those districts may need to adjust budgets to maintain services.

Both the use tax and SB 3 require a majority vote in order to pass.

On election day, the polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Steelville voters, including those in Meramec North, Meramec South, Cook Station, Gibbs, Huzzah, Keysville and Liberty will cast their votes at the Steelville Community Building located at 101 Keysville St.