Voter registration deadline near
January 19 is the last day to apply for voter registration to be eligible to vote in the February 13 Bennington School Board, Silo and Boswell school bonds, and City of Durant salestax proposition elections, according to Bryan County Election Board Secretary Kimberly Norris.
In Durant, voters will decide whether to extend a half-cent sales tax until September 30, 2049. This tax was originally approved by voters in 2004 to fund the Multi-Sports Complex and benefit Southeastern. The tax is presently set to expire on September 30, 2024.
In a meeting last month, Durant City Council voted for an election to give residents an opportunity to extend the tax for another 25 years. If approved, the tax would be used to fund capital improvements including street, water and wastewater improvements, according to a sample ballot.
During the city council meeting, interim city manager Rick Rumsey said the election to extend the tax won’t add any more taxes to what citizens are already paying.
“It’s just redirecting it back to the city to make crucial infrastructure repairs that are much needed,” Rumsey said. “If the repairs are needed today, you’re still going to have stuff that needs to be repaired in 20-25 years.”
Silo voters will be voting on a $35,545,000 bond proposition to fund construction, furnishing, equipping and/or acquiring an early childhood classroom, a lagoon, a high school with safe room plus remodeling school buildings and obtaining furniture and fixtures. The bonds would have an interest not to exceed 10 percent annum, be payable semi-annually and become due serially within 10 years from their date.
According to a “fact sheet” by the school district, the bond will fund the following: - High school with cafeteria inside the commons area including three safe classrooms.
- Additional two classrooms added to early childhood.
- Construction of additional lagoon waste system.
The school district said the bond will result in an 11-percent increase in current property taxes.
In Bennington, Bryce Segotta, Jaci Bates, Matt Tarr, Rachael Smith and Jenny Gilbert are running for Bennington Board of Education Office No. 4.
Boswell School District residents will be voting on a $450,000 bond proposition for the purpose of constructing, equipping, repairing and remodeling school buildings plus obtaining furniture, equipment and fixtures. These bonds will bear an interest not to exceed the rate of 10 percent annum, payable semi-annually and become serially due within 10 years from their date.
Norris said the Boswell School District includes approximately 15 Bryan County voters with the remaining in Choctaw County.
Registered voters who have moved to Bryan County from a different county or state will need to complete a new Voter Registration Application in order to be eligible for elections in Bryan County. If you have moved within the county and need to update your address, you may make changes online using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ ovp or complete a Voter Registration Application.
Voter Registration Applications can be downloaded from the State Election Board website at oklahoma. gov/elections. You may also complete a form at your County Election Board. Most post offices, tag agencies and public libraries have applications available upon request.
The Bryan County Election Board is located at 402 W. Evergreen St, Ste A-2, Durant, and is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. For questions, contact the Election Board at 580-924-3228 or BryanCounty@ elections.ok.gov.