Debt Extension Bond
The Joplin School District is asking voters to approve a $40 million debt extension bond totalling $40 million over the next 20 years that would go towards district improvements. There would be no tax increase for Newton and Jasper County residents if it passes. The district's current tax levy of $3.66 per $100 of assessed property value would remain unchanged, and so would the current debt service tax levy of 76 cents.
Joplin has one of the lowest tax levies in the area, according to a flyer about the ballot measure. For reference, Carthage Public Schools has a $4.43 tax levy per $100 of assessed property value.
A committee of more than 40 volunteers, parents, and school staff has assessed the district to identify improvement priorities. The Long Range Faculty Committee, as it's called, determined four key improvements across seven elementary schools: Stapleton, Eastmoreland, Cecil Floyd, Kelsey Norman, McKinely, Royal Heights, and Jefferson Elementary. . for the school districts.
Superintendent Kerry Sachetta said every school is at a different standard of capability. Only three of the district’s ten total elementary schools have been repaired in the last eleven years. He wants to make sure they all meet the same standard.
“No matter where you live in Joplin, wherever you buy a house, wherever you rent a house, you're going to have a similar experience for your children in the schools compared to the three newest schools,” he said.
In addition to cost-saving windows, improvements would include access-controlled entries, parking and drives for safety and security. Sachetta said these would improve the drop-off and pick-up line in some schools. Some were built when more kids walked to school. Now the streets nearby are clogged during drop off and pick up because it's the only place parents can get in line.
The bond would also allow the creation of a new indoor education and activity facility and improvements to Junge stadium – the sports activity campus for Joplin High School.
Brock Compton is co-chair of the Long Range Faculty Committee, and also a Special Education Teacher at East Middle School. Previously, he worked at several Joplin elementary schools, so he knows the improvements they need.
“I've worked a lot of places in the district through summer school in different buildings, different positions, and so I have a knowledge of the buildings and the people already,” he said.
While the bond will not directly impact Compton as a teacher, it will impact the thousands of students in the district.
“Being able to say that all of our buildings provide the same services, the same way with the same resources, is important for us,” he said.
Debt extension bond ballot measure question:
“Shall Joplin Schools of Jasper & Newton County, Missouri, issue its
general obligation bonds in the amount of $40,000,000 for the purpose of constructing, improving, repairing, remodeling, and furnishing
and equipping new and existing school facilities, including but not
limited to, improvements to Stapleton, Eastmorland, Cecil Floyd, and Kelsey
Norman, McKinley, Royal Heights, and Jefferson Elementaries,
construction of an indoor education & activity facility at Joplin High
School and improvements at Junge Campus?
Proposition Police and Fire
The city of Joplin is also asking voters to approve a permanent funding source for Joplin Police and Fire. Proposition Police and Fire is a no-tax increase and would replace the current half cent sales tax - known as “Prop B”- with the pension sales tax.
If passed, the proposition would be used for staffing, pay and benefits, and improvements to facilities, vehicles, and equipment for police and fire departments.
According to the city of Joplin's informational flyer, a ‘yes’ vote would create nine additional police officer positions and six additional firefighter positions.
It would also improve officers' pay, with $2 million in pay adjustments for both departments.The proposition also allows a more competitive salary for police officers and firefighters. The average starting pay for both positions in Joplin is significantly lower than in other cities in the region.
For reference, the average starting pay for Firefighters is $47,849, with the Police Officer average pay being $53,043
Joplin’s police and fire departments are falling behind on competitive pay, making it difficult to maintain full staffing.
City manager Nick Edwards said the proposition has the potential to directly impact public safety.
“This will have very visible, very meaningful and long-standing impacts for the community,” Edwards said.
The proposed tax rate would take effect in 2027, replacing the current Prop B tax obligations.
Mayor Keenan Cortez said voting ‘yes’ would create a safer community and a happier staff.
“And when you take concerns away from these men and women that are out there on the front lines doing the work, it helps them to focus on what they need to be doing for the community,” Cortez said.
The city has an informational flyer and a YouTube video explaining the proposition on their website.
Ballot question for Proposition Police and Fire
“Shall the City of Joplin impose a citywide sales tax, as authorized by Section 94.900 RSMo., at a rate of one-half of one percent (1/2 percent) solely for the purpose of improving the public safety of the City, said sales tax to replace upon its expiration the general sales tax previously approved by the voters of the City on November 5, 2019, to provide revenues to close the Police and Fire Pension Plan to new hires and migrate new hires to the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System?”
Home Rule Charter Amendment
The City of Joplin is asking voters to approve or reject a proposal to amend the Home Rule Charter to change the term “emergency” ordinance to “expedited” ordinance.
Joplin became a Home Rule Charter city in 1954. The State of Missouri allowed Home Rule Cities to have a charter document - essentially the constitution for the city. The current version of the charter was adopted in 2007 by a vote of the residents.
Home Rule Charter cities have greater local control over how their municipal governments operate.
An item is considered an emergency ordinance when the City Council needs to act immediately. It's a quicker process than a regular ordinance.
Using the term "emergency ordinance" has caused confusion among residents in the past. The proposed change would make the ordinance process easier to understand.
The term expedited means matters that require timely action, creating a better interpretation.
Mayor Cortez said the charter amendment is based on recommendations from both the Missouri State Auditor and the city’s Charter Review Commission.
The city of Joplin was audited over a 24-month period. The report released last fall resulted in a ‘fair’ audit rating for the city.
The Charter Review Commission was made up of nine Joplin residents, five of whom were former mayors.The commission reviewed 10 sections and issued three total recommendations.
The ballot question reads:
“Shall Section 2.12 of the Charter of the City of Joplin, Missouri, be amended to change the term ‘emergency’ ordinance to ‘expedited’ ordinance?”
City Council Election
Lastly, voters will be asked to elect five council members to the City Council.
Council members serve four-year terms.Candidates must be registered voters residing in the City of Joplin for four years prior to filing for office.
Three council members' terms are expiring: Josh DeTar, Doris Carlin, and Doug Lawson. DeTar is the only council member running for re-election.
There are no term limits for council members.
Seven candidates are running for a seat on the General Council.
Zone One and Zone Four Council members' terms are expiring this year. Neither council member is running for re-election.
Mayor Cortez's term as a city council member doesn’t expire until 2028, but he told KRPS that he is running for re-election as mayor.
KGCS-TV is hosting a candidate forum at Missouri Southern State University on March 30th.
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