Maysville voters convincingly rejected two separate propositions Tuesday that would have changed town ordinances regarding how the town’s clerk-treasurer position is filled and how revenue from a 1% sales tax can be used.
The first proposition, asking to change the clerk-treasurer position from an elected office to a position appointed by the mayor, with the approval of the town board of trustees failed 95-45, with 32% of voters in favor and just shy of 68% of voters against the change.
The proposition would have removed the municipal residency requirement of the position, and trustees said it would have allowed them to appoint someone with the appropriate training and experience to fill the position.
The second proposition, asking to change the purpose of 5/8 of a 1% sales tax from street and surface repair to general purpose spending to satisfy outstanding debts and liabilities of the town, failed 118-21, with only 15% of voters in favor of the measure and nearly 85% of voters against it.
Maysville’s board of trustees had hoped to use the funds to catch up debts owed to the Oklahoma Municipal Retirement Fund, the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement Fund, and the Internal Revenue Service for retirement and pension fund withholdings and contributions and employment tax withholdings and contributions the town has not paid in.
Maysville Mayor and Trustee Cindy White said Wednesday using a portion of the street tax money would have been the easiest way to catch up those debts. She said the board of trustees will now have to find another way, whether that means cutting costs, including the potential of job cuts, or raising revenue through billing increases.
In Paoli, a proposition to renew the town’s franchise agreement with Oklahoma Gas and Electric for another 25 years only drew 31 voters to the polls Tuesday, with the measure passing 22-9.
In the race for Office No. 2 on the Board of Education for Mid-America Technology Center, Bruce Bridwell claimed the seat over incumbent board member Michael Dillinger, with a final vote tally of 1,215 to 801. Bridwell claimed 64.49% of the 383 votes cast in the race in Garvin County, slightly higher than the 60.27% he claimed in the race district- wide.
