The bond issue and operating tax levy tied to Jefferson City Public Schools' two-high school plan should mean more people coming to the polls than in a normal April election, according to Cole County election officials.
Cole County Clerk Steve Korsmeyer is predicting a 25 percent voter turnout.
"We gauge that off of the turnout we had in 2013, when the school bond and levy issue were last on the ballot," Korsmeyer said. "We had a 25 percent turnout then, so we expect about the same this time."
That is more than double the typical voter turnout for an April election in Cole County, usually about 9 or 10 percent.
Propositions J and C, which present Jefferson City Public Schools' two-high school, plan are on Tuesday's ballot.
Proposition J will ask voters to authorize a 65-cent tax levy increase to fund a $130 million bond issue to build a second high school and renovate the existing one to make it an equitable facility in terms of square footage, design and safety. Proposition J requires a 57 percent approval vote in order to pass.
Proposition C will ask voters to authorize a 45-cent operating levy - 25 cents to cover the operating costs of a second high school and 20 cents to cover needs within the existing school system. Proposition C requires a simple majority vote in order to pass.
If both issues are approved, a Jefferson City family which currently owns a $150,000 home would pay about $25 more a month or $300 more a year in property taxes; personal property taxes would also increase, although by much smaller amounts. Taxes on residential and personal property are calculated in the same way: assessed value of the property, divided by 100, then multiplied by the overall tax rate.
If the levy passes but the bond issue does not, the district will only collect the 20 cents for existing needs like purchasing a new textbook series and expanding mental health support.
Along with school board races in Jefferson City and Blair Oaks, there are also two contested Jefferson City Council races and two measures dealing with operations of the Cole R-1 (Russellville) school district that Korsmeyer believes will bring out voters.
Six candidates are campaigning for three available seats on the JCPS Board of Education: Lori Massman, Steve Bruce, Victoria Sterling, Scott Hovis, Don Salcedo and Paul Graham.
Five candidates are campaigning for three available seats on the Blair Oaks Board of Education: Paul Mudd, Nicki Russell, Peggy Luebbert, Doug Moeller and Scott Farley.
On the Jefferson City Council, contested races involve Jim Branch and David Kemna in the 1st Ward and Ron Fitzwater, Leonard Steinman II and Charles Jackson in the 4th Ward.
Because there is no contested race in the Cole R-5 (Eugene) school district, no polling location will operate in that community for this election. Three people filed to fill the three openings on the Eugene school board.
Korsmeyer noted his office has moved the polling place in St. Thomas from the St. Thomas Catholic School to avoid disruptions for students and potential safety issues. Voters in that community will now vote at the St. Thomas Knights of Columbus, 15215 Route B.