Early voting for the May 20 election opens today in Valley County for a variety of district board elections, a sewer bond measure, and a request to renew a McCall tax.
Votes can be cast at the Valley County Courthouse in Cascade from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through May 16. Absentee ballots can be requested until Friday.
Most of the items on the ballot may only be voted on by McCall residents and property owners, but Cascade and Donnelly each have one contested board race for taxing districts.
Valley Lookout will be publishing question-and-answer responses from candidates on the ballot in the coming days. For now, here is a broad look at this month’s electoral landscape, with links to Valley Lookout’s previous reporting on the election.
McCall preview
A 10-year renewal of the City of McCall’s Streets local-option tax is among the items city voters will see on their ballots this month.
The tax would renew the city’s existing streets tax, which is set to expire at the end of this year after being passed by McCall voters in 2015. The tax has since raised nearly $18 million for city street projects.
If renewed, the tax would levy a 1% general sales tax that excludes groceries and a 4% lodging tax on short-term rentals and motels.
Approval requires at least 60% of voters to be in favor of the tax, which would increase the lodging tax by 1% compared to the current streets tax.
Payette sewer district
McCall voters will also be asked to approve a $7 million sewer bond to fund improvements to the wastewater treatment plant that serves the city.
That measure requires a simple majority of voters, or 50% plus one, to be in favor of the proposal. If successful, monthly sewer rates are expected to rise about 25% to fund debt payments.
The money would be used to repair a leaking liner in a pond containing treated wastewater on the south side of Deinhard Lane and replace aging equipment in treatment ponds on the north side of the road, among other things.
Meanwhile, the agency seeking the bond, the Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District, is set to hold its first-ever board member election in the district’s 54-year history, Business Manager Tammie Richardson said.
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All sitting and previous members of the district’s board of directors have been appointed or run unopposed for a seat on the board, Richardson said, which has exempted the district from holding formal elections.
A seat for Zone 2, which takes much of southwestern McCall, is currently held by Ken Patterson, who was appointed to the board in 2019 and ran unopposed for a four-year term in 2021.
Patterson is challenged by Todd Fereday, Candi Millar, and Bryce Henson. The candidate with the most votes will be elected to a six-year term that begins June 18.
Meanwhile, a Zone 3 seat currently held by Mark Larson is contested by newcomers Russ Fogel and Brian Renstrom. Larson is not eligible to seek re-election because he was appointed to the seat despite not living in Zone 3, which covers most of southeastern McCall.
Unless voting early, McCall voters can cast ballots from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 20 at Idaho First Bank.
Donnelly
The only contested election this May for Donnelly area voters concerns the North Lake Recreational Sewer and Water District.
North Lake Board Chairman Kurt Holtan is being challenged by David Bruce for a six-year term on the board.
North Lake provides sewer service to the City of Donnelly, homes around the northern portion of Lake Cascade and Tamarack Resort.
Unless voting early, Donnelly voters can cast ballots from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 20 at the Donnelly Bible Church.
Cascade
In Cascade, four candidates are vying for three seats on the board governing the Cascade Medical Center District.
Incumbents Rachel Smith, Tom Watson and Michael Drury are challenged by Warren Sedlacek for six-year terms on the board. The three candidates with the most votes will earn seats on the board.
The hospital district board is responsible for management, strategic plans, and supervision of all business related to Cascade Medical Center, including the Donnelly Clinic.
The hospital provides primary and walk-in medical care, 24-hour emergency services, laboratory services, radiology, inpatient care, physical therapy, and mental health services.
Unless voting early, Cascade voters can cast ballots from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 20 at American Legion Post 60.
