Clarksdale Mayor Chuck Espy said Tuesday night it is time to get to work.
Clarksdale voters said ‘yes’ to a $5 million bond issue this week that will see the city rebuild a bridge, mitigate flooding problems, install lighting and repair streets.
“My hat goes off to the citizens of Clarksdale who recognized we had an emergency and authorized us to go to work,” said Espy. “We have a list of priorities and it is time for the city council to go to work.”
The final tally saw 1,320 city residents vote for the bond issue and 675 votes against it for a 66/34 percent margin.
Espy pointed out the city will seek state and federal grants and will use bond issue money to leverage those grants and increase the city chances of being approved for those funds.
“I felt comfortable going into Tuesday’s election,” said Espy. “We worked hard to explain why we wanted this money and what we will spend it on.”
City Election Commissioner Sanford Johnson said he was pleased with the process and the election went smoothly. Tuesday’s election was different in that voters were asked to cast ballots for county offices and often had to go to a different city precinct to cast a ballot for or against the city bond issue
“Most of the regular poll workers were working for the county and we had to hire and train 32 poll workers quickly,” said Johnson. “The main problem was checking voter rolls and explaining to people where they needed to vote.”
The city has hosted a series of hearing at the city auditorium in May and June that focused on drainage and flooding concerns and then turned its focus on informing voters how they could cast a ballot for city improvements at the same time they vote for county candidates.
The city prioritized five projects totaling $8.25 million. However, after allowing for $3 million in funding from the Mississippi Department of Transportation and a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant, the city’s share would be $4.91 million.
The referendum has been tagged “Building for the Future” with city leaders pointing out this is an investment that will reap immediate rewards.
Building for the Future project include
1. Replace Second Street Bridge: $3,800,000.
2. Sasse Street drainage: $800,000.
3. Pearson Street levee/pump: $2,025,000
4. Sidewalks/Lighting: $1.1 million.
5. Street rehabilitation: $500,000.
6. Friars Point Road: $3,600,000.
Projects are listed by priority and Friars Point would be added if fund become available through possible grants.
The precinct voting breakdown was as follows:
Lee Drive (Ward 1)
289 For
223 Against
City Auditorium (Ward 2)
261 For
229 Against
Expo Center (Ward 3)
297 For
122 Against
National Guard (Ward 4)
470 For
101 Against
Homeowners with a home valued at $50,000 will pay $25 more in property taxes per year. A $100,000 home will pay an additional $50. The increase in taxes on a $200,000 home will be $100.
For those who own property that is not occupied by the owner, the increase is: $37.50 annually for a $50,000 property; $75 for a $100,000 property; and $150 for a $200,000 parcel.
Clarksdale currently has $3.55 million in debt from general obligation bonds that were passed in 2011 and earlier this year.
