Early in-person voting begins today, Feb. 9, for the Feb. 14 election and all those eligible voters in Lincoln County have at least one proposition to decide.
They will cast their votes on renewal of the one percent county sales tax now in place that helps provide funding for a number of entities. If approved, the renewal will take effect Jan. 1, 2024.
Voters who reside in the Chandler School District also will decide a $3.8 million bond issue.
Chandler School Supt. Scott Baade said the four projects the board members chose to include in the proposal to submit to the voters include a Media Center/Library for East Side Elementary School; a track field house/public restrooms/concession stand; Classroom cameras with microphones; and an Ag truck.
“It totals $3,880,000,” Baade noted. He said the bond, if approved, would pay off in five years.
The board also voted in a special meeting to employ Stephen H. McDonald and Associates as financial consultants for the bond issue.
He said the financial consultant recommended the bond issue be five years rather than six as originally thought. “That will save us $138,000 in interest,” Baade explained.
On the renewal of the one percent county sales tax for another five years, commissioners during their Dec. 5, 2022 meeting adopted a resolution and election proclamation calling for renewal of the one cent county sales tax to be put on the Feb. 14, 2023 ballot.
The one percent sales tax is to be allocated as follows: 60 percent for county road and bridge improvements.
13 percent goes to the Lincoln County Jail.
6 percent is for the Lincoln County Extension Center which is capped at $120,000.
Another 7 percent for the Senior Citizen Nutrition sites.
Fire Departments receive 8.5 percent of the tax.
The Lincoln County Free Fair receives 2 percent. As directed by the Fair Board, it’s for repairs, maintenance, improvements, and personnel with a minimum of $3,000 dedicated for fair premiums and awards each year.
Economic Development receives 2 percent.
And Emergency Management and the Lincoln County Safety Office receive 1.5 percent. Maximum allowance for Safety Officer is $5,000.
Money over capped amounts will go to Lincoln County Economic Development.
Paul Simpson, the Rural Fire Defense Coordinator for the Central Oklahoma Economic Development Office (COEDD), explained 17 different fire departments throughout Lincoln County share in the 8.5 percent they receive and then there is a joint account they all use to purchase items the majority of the fire departments need like radio repeaters or a large ticket item that they can borrow from and then pay back.
Voters in the Prague School District will cast ballots on a school board race where four candidates are seeking the Office No. 3 seat. They include Adam Hogue, Rhonda Cruz, Rainey Carter and Winford Navrath.
Those Lincoln County voters who reside in the Harrah School District have an Office No. 2 board race to decide between Dustin Jeney, Chris Monden and Karl F Wasserleben IV.
Lincoln County Election Board Secretary Melissa Stambaugh said early voting is open to all voters. It’s available today and Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the County Election Board located at 811 Manvel Avenue in Chandler.
On Tuesday, voters must go to their respective precincts to cast their ballots.