The more important of two Jefferson City ballot issues being decided Tuesday may be the one that has generated less controversy and publicity.
Obscured by the haze of a proposed smoke-free ordinance is a $35 million bond issue for sewer system improvements.
We urge city residents to approve Question D.
As the second phase of an ongoing project, the proposal is more an extension than an innovation.
Phase one was a $52 million, 10-year bond issue approved overwhelmingly in 2000. It financed a range of system enhancements, including the successful elimination of the nauseating sewer plant odor that periodically settled over our city.
The $35 million proposed in phase two includes $28 million for collection system projects and $7 million for treatment system improvements.
The expenditures are designed to: protect public health and water quality; comply with state mandates; repair leaks and install new lines; and repair or replace failing force mains.
The city proposes to finance phase two with low-interest state loans and bond sales.
Voter approval will mean increased costs for customers. The expected hike is 5-6 percent each year during the seven-year period, which means the average bill would increase from $21 to $30 by 2017.
What happens if the proposal fails?
City officials argue the state-mandated improvements still must be made and envision the potential for a more drastic rate hike.
We believe that contention is a realistic scenario, not a scare tactic. Among city projects, sewer improvements may not be glamorous, but they are necessary. And officials have earned voter confidence as a result of proven performance with phase one. We encourage Jefferson Citians to approve the sewer bond issue on Tuesday.