KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Voters in several area locations went to the polls for special elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd.
Several jurisdictions had tax levy proposals on their ballots to fund infrastructure and school improvements.
In Kansas, voters in Baldwin City, Fairway and Edwardsville will decide on sales tax increases.
Fairway voters cast their ballots, due by noon on Tuesday, by mail and drop-off. Voters passed a measure to allow an additional one-half of one-percent retail sales tax in their city. The measure passed by 794 to 452 votes. The tax begins on April 1, 2010 and will expire in 20 years. Revenue from the tax would fund capital improvements and pay debt service on bonds issued by the city.
Edwardsville voters turned down a proposed half-cent increase in the city's sales tax, to help fund basic city services.
River Bend, Mo., voters approved the town issuing $300,000 of revenue bonds for the town's waterworks system.
Platte County voters also approved a new property tax levy in the North Platte R-I school district of 99-cents per hundred dollars of assessed valuation.
Residents of Peculiar, Mo., denied measures seeking new fuels and sewer taxes. They approved a new business license fee structure.
Belton voters did not approve a measure seeking to change their Parks and Recreation Board from an administrative body to an advisory board. They did approve new sewer system bonds, though.
Center School District patrons approved district bonds with 77% of the vote.
Liberty, Mo., voters will decided they like the revamped smoking ban for their city, and it passed.
All Jackson County ballots included the question of whether the county can continue to fund COMBAT, the Community-Backed Anti-Drug Tax. The measure passed with 71% of voters approving renewal of the tax.
It has funding for another seven years. The 1/4 cent tax raises $20 million dollars a year to arrest, prosecute and rehabilitate people guilty of drug-related offenses.
Critics said COMBAT programs need more oversight. However, Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders considers Tuesday night's vote a mandate for the program to remain as it currently exists.
“With that being said, I've talked to literally thousands of people in Jackson County about COMBAT,” Sanders said. “What combat does, and even though we got 70-plus percent of the vote, it doesn't mean combat can't be better. It doesn't mean we can't improve the program."
The Kansas City, Missouri Election Board reported light voter turnout on Tuesday.
Jackson County officials said they saw a higher-than-expected turnout in Independence, where voters are deciding on the COMBAT tax, and bond issues for River Bend and Independence Schools.
Independence voters approved new bonds to fund school improvements and construction.
Baldwin City, Kan., voters approved both tax measures on their ballots, earmarked for infrastructure and quality-of-life improvements.
