Prop ECC, Prop Lifesaver Headline Ballot For Bourbon Area Voters

Crawford County voters will weigh in on two propositions in next Tuesday’s municipal elections, deciding whether to approve a levy transfer for East Central College and create a debt service levy for the North Crawford County Ambulance District.

With no city council elections or school board elections, the propositions are the two biggest issues for Bourbon area voters.

Proposition ECC

ECC is proposing to take the existing 9.9 cent debt service levy and roll it into the 34.82 cent operating levy.

This would create one 44.72 cent per $100 of assessed valuation operating levy, one that results in no increase to the property tax levy.

According to ECC, the debt service levy was approved by voters in 2006, which provided funds to construct the Health Science Building.

The debt will be paid off in February 2026 and the college has no plans to construct new buildings on the Union campus.

Currently, the debt service levy comes out to $18.81 per year for a $100,000 home value. The operating levy charges $84.96 per year for a $100,000 home value.

Transferring the debt service levy, which can only be used to pay off debts, into the operating levy will increase revenue about $2.2 million annually, ECC says.

The college plans on enhancing the safety and security on campus, making necessary repairs to modernize its aging buildings, renovating the campus spaces for the Early College Academy, STEM/Engineering lab and a veterans lounge.

ECC says the money also will be used to addressing rising health care, insurance and salaries, along with maintaining “affordable tuition and fees.”

The college says the operating levy will not be used for the construction of the new Rolla facility, which has $13 million in state money and $3 million in federal money earmarked. That campus won’t be completed until January 2027.

Proposition Lifesaver

NCCAD is asking voters to approve a $4 million bond issue.

Proposition Lifesaver would create a debt service levy that adds around $3.99 per month if a resident’s home value is $180,000.

NCCAD says it will purchase additional ambulances, upgrade equipment, upgrade station, pay off existing debts and add a training center at Station 1.

Funds generated from Proposition Lifesaver may only be used for capital improvements and never for salary of benefits.