<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=46RPKE_1Gx245eD00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=46RPKE_1Gx245eD00" width="1200" height="1200" >LOCAL GOVERNMENT COVERAGE Voters in both Clarksville and Ozark approved bond issues that will provide funding for utility improvements during the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.ClarksvilleIn Clarksville, voters were asked to decide whether to extend and restructure a one-cent sales tax to fund critical upgrades to the city’s wastewater treatment plant, as well as parks and recreation improvements.Three questions were on the ballot, and all three gained enough votes for passage.Question one, which asked approval to refund the existing bonds, received 1,142 votes in favor and 686 against. The second question, which asked to utilize bonds for wastewater treatment plant improvements passed with 1,313 voting for and 547 voting against.The third question asked approval to utilize a portion of the bond money for parks and recreation improvements, including a veterans memorial, a splash pad and a rodeo arena, passed with 1,133 votes for and 715 against.The city’s existing tax structure was approved in 2021 to fund a bond issue for parks and recreation improvements, including a mountain bike trail system near Lake Ludwig, improvements to the city soccer fields, and construction of a new baseball complex.Those bonds, which were paid by the one-cent sales tax approved as part of the measure, are set to be paid in full by 2027. The proposal will allow the city to refinance the remaining debt and issue additional bonds for needed projects. It will replace the current 0.75% tax with a temporary 0.75% tax, which will expire once the new bonds are paid off. An existing 0.25% tax will continue and will back up debt payments if needed. The bond refunding will not increase the city’s current one-cent sales tax rate but will extend the period during which the temporary portion is collected.OzarkOzark voters were asked to repurpose the city’s existing 1% tax to fund needed improvements to the city’s water system.Two questions were on the ballot, with both receiving enough votes for passage.Question one, to refund the existing bonds, received 497 votes for and 307 against. The second question, which asked approval to utilize the bonds for water system improvements, passed with 572 votes in favor and 234 against.Following the voter approval, the existing tax will be reappropriated to cover a majority of the critical upgrades to the water system, which are estimated to cost around $23 million. The tax will be used toward paying off a 30-year bond the city plans to issue in 2027, and the remaining expenses not covered by the sales tax will be paid through a water rate increase.An estimated $15 monthly water rate increase will also be required, although city officials said if the bond issue had failed, a much higher rate increase, estimated at $70 per month, would have been required.Improvements funded by the bond include improvements to the backwash tank, the east side transmission line and the Highway 23 transmission line, as well as pressure plane realignment.—–<h2>Support Local Accountability Reporting</h2>Independent local journalism depends on the support of its readers.The Graphic covers decisions affecting Johnson and Franklin counties, from city councils and school boards to county government and public utilities.<h2>Become a Subscriber or Donate Today </h2></div></body>

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Voters in both Clarksville and Ozark approved bond issues that will provide funding for utility improvements during the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. In Clarksville, voters were asked to decide whether to extend and restructure a one-cent sales tax to fund critical upgrades to the city’s wastewater treatment plant, as well as parks and recreation improvements.

Clarksville, Ozark Approve Bond Issues

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Voters in both Clarksville and Ozark approved bond issues that will provide funding for utility improvements during the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3

Clarksville, Ozark Approve Bond Issues

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