NEW MADRID, Mo. - The voter turnout was one of the lowest for a countywide issue but the support was high to create a new revenue source for the county’s 911 system.
More than 70 percent of those casting ballots Tuesday approved the proposal which called for $1 a month surcharge on a subscriber of any communications services that is enabled to contact 911 for the purpose of funding 911 service in New Madrid County. According to unofficial totals from New Madrid County Clerk Clement Cravens’ office, 418 voters said yes to the proposal while 174 opposed it.
New Madrid Police Chief Joey Higgerson, who oversees the 911 operations for the county, said he was pleased with the vote.
“I think everyone is very pleased with the outcome, especially after seeing that 70 percent of the voters were in favor of the funding. Its passage ensures the existence of 911 services in New Madrid County for many years to come,” said Higgerson.
Once in place, it is estimated the surcharge will bring in approximately $300,000 annually to fund the countywide emergency telephone system.
County officials first must create an operational plan for approval by state officials on the use of the money. Once approved, the $1 monthly surcharge can then be collected and county officials have pledged to drop the 15 percent surcharge for 911 service currently assessed on all landlines.
Also on Tuesday, two communities also gave approval to issues before them.
By a wide margin, residents of Matthews gave the nod for city officials to issue combined waterworks and sewerage system revenue bonds of up to $2,500,000 for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, extending and improving the city’s current water and sewage system. The unofficial vote was 26 yes with only five residents opposed.
Funds to repay the bonds will be provided through the operation of the improved system, according to the ballot wording.
Planned improvements include reconditioning of the town’s water tower and improvements to the water treatment plant. Also there would be work on the city’s water and sewage infrastructure.
The second time around, voters in Portageville again agreed to impose a 1/4 of a 1 percent sales tax which will be used to provide security resource officers for the Portageville schools. The vote was 128 in favor of the tax and 75 opposed.
A year ago the issue also gained voter approval but due to the way the state law was written the tax could not be implemented. Special legislation passed by the Missouri House and Senate and signed by the governor allowed for the second vote.
In addition to funding the salary for the school resource officers, any additional funds are to be designated for public safety purposes including use by the town’s fire and police departments.
According to information from the county clerk’s office just over 5.5 percent of the county’s voters took time to cast a ballot on Tuesday. Of the county’s 10,428 registered voters, a total of 596 filled out a ballot.
“It was a real quiet day,” Cravens noted. “We didn’t have enough turnout to have any problems.”