Election Day: Voters To Decide On Propositions, Tax

The General Municipal Election is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, with only a few races and several propositions on the ballot. Issues to be decided involve East Central College, the Strain-Japan School District, and a Crawford County use tax.

In the City of Sullivan, all incumbents are running unopposed. No candidates are being challenged for re-election, including Mayor Dennis Watz, City Judge Dan Leslie, Alderman Ward One Chris Bunk, Alderman Ward Two Kecia Philpot, and Alderman Ward Three Matt Wiegers.

The position of City Collector remains without a candidate. The office is currently being served by appointed City Clerk Judy McPherson.

In the Sullivan School District, incumbents Randy Stack and James Bartle are being challenged by Tyler Garner and Theresa McKinney. Voters will choose two candidates to serve three-year terms on the Board of Education.

In the Strain-Japan R-16 School District, Kari Schatz is the only candidate to file for office, leaving one of the two available board seats without a candidate. The district also has two propositions on the ballot:

• Proposition S would increase the tax levy by $0.81 per $100 of assessed valuation. The purpose is to raise employee compensation and help retain quality staff.

• Proposition J would authorize the district to issue $610,000 in general obligation bonds for constructing, renovating, furnishing, and equipping school facilities. This includes relocating and building a new kitchen and replacing existing bleachers with ADA-compliant seating. If approved, the district’s debt service property tax levy would increase from $0.0000 to $0.2350 per $100 of assessed valuation.

East Central College is placing Proposition ECC before voters. This measure seeks approval to allow the Board of Trustees to maintain the current total property tax levy by increasing the operating property tax levy ceiling to $0.4472 per $100 of assessed valuation—an increase of $0.0990 from the current rate. The additional funds would support construction, maintenance, repairs, operating expenses, personnel, and safety and security across the college district.

Approval of the proposition would not increase the College District’s current total property tax levy, which is expected to remain at $0.4472 per $100 of assessed valuation.

In Crawford County, voters will decide whether to impose a use tax on out-of-county and online purchases. The proposed tax rate would match the current local sales tax, ensuring that online purchases are taxed the same as in-store purchases.

Supporters say the use tax helps level the playing field for local businesses and ensures the county receives sales tax revenue currently lost to online shopping.

Voters will simply answer “yes” or “no” on the measure.