Gasconade County ballot language for the April 7 election features a county wide property tax credit question, an ambulance sales tax question for the southern half of the county, two school bond issues, school board seats and municipal elections.

The Gasconade County Clerk’s office in the courthouse will be open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 for anyone needing to vote an absentee ballot.

The Gasconade County Commission proposes a property tax credit. Ballot language for the Gasconade County Property Tax question reads: “Shall the County of Gasconade exempt eligible taxpayers from certain tax increases on eligible taxpayers primary residence above the liability incurred during the initial credit year?”

Gasconade County R-1 School District’s Prop C.A.R.E bond ballot language reads: “Shall the Board of Education of the Gasconade County R-1 School District Missouri, without an estimated increase in the current debt service property tax levy, borrow money in the amount of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollar ($3,500,000) for the purpose of providing funds to replace the high school roof; to complete tuckpointing; to repave parking lots; to replace the remaining heat; ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to the extent funds are available, complete other repairs and improvements to the existing facilities of the district, and issue general obligations bonds for the payment thereof?”

If this proposition is approved, the adjusted debt service levy of the R-1 School District is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.6030 per one hundred dollars of real and personal property. A 4/7ths majority (57.14 percent) is needed to pass school bond issues.

There are three seats open on the Gasconade County R-1 Board of Education.

Four candidates will be on the ballot: Chad Walton, Racheal Brinker, Amy Grannemann (board secretary) and Dawn Grosse.

The city of Hermann has four races on the ballot including mayor, city collector, and one aldermen from both Ward 1 and Ward 2.

Current Mayor Bruce Cox is facing Jim Schirmer as a challenger for the mayoral seat.

Vicky Kesler is on the ballot for city collector.

Incumbent Dolores Grannemann is being challenged by Susan Lenger for Ward 2 alderman for a two-year term.

Incumbent Ash Geers is running unopposed for the Ward 1 alderman seat for a two-year term.

Owensville Area Ambulance District has a question on the ballot. Ballot language reads: “Shall the Owensville Area Ambulance District be authorized to increase the existing sales tax by an additional half one-percent, bringing the total sales tax to one percent, for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the Owensville Area Ambulance District, and be further authorized to impose a use tax in an equal amount to such sales tax is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall be reduced or raised by the same action?”

A simple majority is needed for approval on the ambulance district’s sales tax proposal.

Gasconade County R-2 School District voters in Gasconade and Franklin counties, along with a small number of patrons in Osage and Crawford counties, will be asked to extend the debt service levy for additional classroom space at the high school and renovations to the elementary school in Gerald.

R-2 ballot election information reads: “Shall Gasconade County R-2 School District issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of $14,916,000 estimated to result in no change to the District’s debt service property tax levy, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, imposing, renovating, furnishing, and equipping school sites and facilities including: construction of an addition to OHS to connect the main building to the Ag building, and provide additional classroom space for Band, Choir and Drama programs; construction of a multi-purpose room at OHS; renovations to the weight and locker rooms at OHS, renovate the small gym into an auditorium; upgrades to playground equipment at Owensville Elementary School; and expansion of the kitchen and improvements to the front corridor at Gerald Elementary School?”

If the question is approved the debt service property tax levy is estimated to stay unchanged at 67 cents per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property. A 4/7ths (57.14 percent) majority is needed to pass the proposed bond.

There are three seats open for the R-2 school district’s Board of Education as directors for three-year terms. Five candidates are running for the three offices. They include incumbents Glenn Ely, board president, and Jason Crowe who are facing a challenged from Rachael Mooney, Mitchell Henderson and Kaylynne Niederer.

City of Owensville voters will have four uncontested city races on the April ballot.

There are races for mayor, a two-year term for Ward 1, a two-year term for Ward 2 and City Marshal which carries a four-year term.

Incumbent Mayor Kevin M. McFadden, incumbent aldermen Dr. Cathy Lahmeyer (Ward 1), and Denise Bohl (Ward 2) are all running again for their respective office and are unopposed. Also unopposed for a second term as City Marshal is Police Chief Scott Griffith.

The city of Bland has three races for the Board of Aldermen and a local use tax question.

Merrilee Spurgeon is running unopposed for another term as mayor and Shari Morgan and Matthew Dittman are each running for a two-year term as aldermen at large. Voters will select two aldermen. There is an unexpired one-year term for the board. No one is on the ballot and that means open write-in rules apply.

The city of Bland is also having a local use tax question for voters to decide. The ballot reads: “Shall the City of Bland, Missouri impose a local use tax at the same rate as the local sales tax, currently the three and one-half percent (3.5 percent) provided if the sales tax is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall be reduced or raised by the same action?”

Rosebud has three uncontested races for city government.

Mayor Shannon Grus is up for re-election, Justin Haase seeks another term for Ward 1 alderman, and Kelly Kuhrts is unopposed in Ward 2 for a two-year term as alderman

The city of Morrison has three city positions up for election.

Mayor Rick Penrod is up for re-election, Stephanie Birk is running for a two-year term for city collector and two aldermen at large seats are open but no one has filed for candidacy. Open write in-rules apply for the aldermen race.

The city of Gasconade has three uncontested races including mayor, city collector and two aldermen at large seats.

Deborah Green is running for mayor, Marjorie Kuhn is running for city collector, and John Steiner and Curtis Duncan are running for at large seats on the board. Voters will select two aldermen.