Audrain County voters will have a number of tax and bond issues to consider during the April 7 municipal election.

The Van-Far School District and Community R-6 School District are proposing bond issues with no tax-rate increase that will appear on the April ballot entitled Proposition Safe Schools, Strong Community and Proposition K.I.D.S., respectively. The Laddonia Farber Road District is seeking to levy a continuing additional tax rate, and a countywide question regarding property tax caps will also appear on the ballot.

No-excuse, absentee voting began March 24. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m on April 7.

Bond issues

Proposition Safe Schools, Strong Community is a $4 million bond proposed by the Van-Far School District that will be used to cover campus improvements at both the elementary and high school.

Planned projects include:

• A new, secure entrance to the high school. The proposed new entry and office spaces will be located in the current library space. Dr. Natalie Gibson, Van-Far School District superintendent, said the entrance is far from the main office and the confusing layout poses a safety concern.
• An intercom system in the elementary building. The district uses an app for safety concern alerts, which Gibson said isn’t always reliable because the internet protocol phones don’t always have a reliable Wi-Fi connection.
• New heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in the elementary and high school gymnasiums.
• The abatement and installation of new flooring in the high school. The floor in the library contains asbestos making abatement and replacement necessary. While the majority of the flooring in the hallways does not contain asbestos, it is old and needs to be replaced.

The district’s adjusted debt service levy is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.6109 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property.

Proposition K.I.D.S, or keep improving district schools, is a $1,625,000 bond proposed by the Community R-6 School District that includes five key areas of improvement, according to a news release issued by the district.

Those areas include:

• ADA-compliant playground improvements. According to the release, the current playground is not ADA-compliant. Plans include the resurfacing of the playground with an accessible surface and the purchase of new equipment.
• HVAC system replacement. Several older units are becoming less reliable and less efficient. The replacement of older units will be part of a planned, rotational replacement schedule to improve efficiency and reduce maintenance costs.
• Drainage repair at the agriculture classroom entry. The entry to the agriculture classroom is at a negative grade, which allows water to enter during heavy rainfall, causing interior damage. The proposed project includes repairing the grade issue as well as the affected areas.
• Replacement of the outdoor freezer. The outdoor freezer used to store food for meal services is in need of replacement, as is the concrete slab on which the unit is housed.
• Circle drive and sidewalk improvements. The circle drive is in need of resurfacing and new curbs. The project will also address aging sidewalks and entryways around the building to improve accessibility and safety.

The district’s adjusted debt service levy is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.55 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property.

Tax issues

Laddonia Farber Road District is proposing an additional tax-rate of $0.35 per $100 of assessed valuation for a period of four years.

“That is a continuing added levy that they already have,” Lisa Smith, Audrain County Clerk,
said.

The Laddonia Farber Road District currently has an assessed valuation of $38,170,999 and the tax rate ceiling is set at $0.32. There will also be a county wide question on the ballot regarding the property tax credit in Senate Bill 3 with language that Alan Winders, Audrain County presiding commissioner, said contains language that is “pretty hard to get
through.”

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

“The idea, I believe, was property tax relief,” Winders said.

For Audrain County voters, the property tax credit proposal would only affect homesteads, or primary residences, not commercial properties or agricultural land. If it passes, Winders said the proposal could cap tax increases at 5% in Audrain County.

The election will be held on Tuesday, April 7.