Voters approve E-911 tax, name new council members

A 1/8-cent sales tax for Greene County's Emergency 911 program passed by a large margin, with 70 percent of votes, according to unofficial election results.

For a handful of cities, voters chose mayoral candidates. Challenger Don Watts won over incumbent Donna McQuay for Ozark mayor by 64 percent, while Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson, running unopposed, kept his seat. Tom Vicat was named mayor of Strafford with 47 percent of the votes, beating opponents Myrl Bowler and Jessica Miller; Jamie Daniel Schoolcraft was named Willard mayor with 53 percent of the votes, beating Tom Keltner.

In Taney County, Raeanne Presley – co-owner of Presley’s Country Jubilee – was named Branson mayor, defeating incumbent Lou Schaefer with 83 percent approval.

Springfield City Council will see a slight shakeup. Doug Burlison beat incumbent Conrad Griggs for general seat C, while former assistant county prosecutor Cindy Rushefsky ousted incumbent Shelia Wright for Zone 2. Watts Radiant co-owner Dan Chiles beat Jack Steck for general seat D, and Ralph Manley held onto his seat for Zone 3.

Voters also considered a number of ballot issues:

Billings

• a $3.5 million bond issue for the Billings School District to add classroom space and other school facilities passed with 73 percent of the vote

Clever

• a $3.5 million bond issue for the Clever School District to build a new high school passed with 68 percent of the vote

• a proposal to increase the Clever schools tax levy 65 cents to $3.5446 to fund the district's operating costs passed with 64 percent of the vote

• a proposal to maintain Clever's tax levy at 0.6218 cents passed with 82 percent of the vote

Fair Grove

• a $6.8 million bond issue for the Fair Grove School District to build new classrooms and other school additions passed with 60 percent of the vote

• a 1/4-cent sales tax for Fair Grove parks passed with 59 percent of the vote

• a proposal to increase the Fair Grove Fire Protection District board to five members passed with 80 percent of the vote

Ozark

• a $9.5 million bond issue for Ozark School District to build and renovate East Elementary School passed with 64 percent of the vote

• a proposal for a 17-cent tax levy to support the Ozark Fire Protection District passed with 61 percent of the vote

Pleasant Hope

• the continuation of a Pleasant Hope School District operating tax levy ceiling of 3.1793 cents through 2026 passed with 55 percent of the vote

Republic

• a $19 million bond issue for the Republic School District to build a new high school passed in Greene County with 64 percent and in Christian County by 75 percent of the vote

• an increase of the Republic School District's tax levy by 10 cents to $3.24 in 2007, $3.34 in 2008 and $3.44 in 2009 passed in Greene County with 58 percent and in Christian County by 73 percent of the vote

• Republic's home rule charter was approved in Greene County with 63 percent of votes and in Christian County with 87 percent of votes

Sparta

• a proposal to levy an additional tax of no more than 25 cents to support the Sparta Fire Protection District was rejected by 53 percent of voters[[In-content Ad]]