Two separate measures to fund millions in infrastructure projects in the city were approved on Tuesday by McCall voters.
The City of McCall received approval on a 10-year renewal of its streets local-option tax, with about 78% of the 432 total voters in favor of the renewal. A 60% majority was required for approval.
About 19% of the city’s 2,262 eligible voters voted on the measure, according to data provided by the Valley County Elections Department.
The renewal means the city can levy a 1% general sales tax and a 4% tax on short-term lodging through 2036. The renewed tax includes a 1% increase on the lodging tax compared to the current streets tax, which is set to expire at the end of this year.
Money earned by the tax is spent mostly on city streets and sidewalks. The city also broadened language in the renewed tax to allow it to be spent on streets and sidewalks associated with local housing projects.
“We are so thankful to the voters for staying engaged and informed ahead of the election,” McCall Communications Manager Erin Greaves said on Wednesday. “Their support shows they recognize the Streets Local Option Tax as a crucial tool to maintain McCall’s roads well used by both our residents and visitors.”
Greaves invited city residents to weigh in on how the money should be spent this summer as the city develops its budget, which will begin during a meeting at 9 a.m. on Friday morning.
Sewer bond
Meanwhile, a $7 million bond issue requested by the Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District passed with more than 86% of the 507 voters in favor. A 50% plus one vote was required for the bond to pass.
The sewer district saw 22% of its 2,405 eligible voters cast ballots, the highest percentage among local districts in Tuesday’s election.
The bond money will be spent mostly on improvements at a wastewater treatment plant on Deinhard Lane, including a project to replace a leaking liner in a pond that stores treated wastewater on the south side of the roadway.
District Manager Jeff Bateman, Business Manager Tammie Richardson, and the district’s board of directors thanks voters in a statement provided to Valley Lookout.
“We would like to thank the voters for their support. The passage of this bond will allow funding for necessary upgrades identified in the District Sewer Master Plan to support a safer and more robust sewer system,” the statement said. “We encourage community members to stay informed as we moved forward with the improvement projects.”
The Payette sewer district also saw its first ever contested race for a seat on the board of directors during this election cycle. McCall resident Todd Fereday unseated incumbent Ken Patterson for a seat on the board, garnering nearly 45% of the vote in a crowded field of four candidates. A total of 418 votes were cast.
A second newcomer, Brian Renstrom, was elected to a seat on the board to replace incumbent Mark Larson, who was not eligible to run for the seat due to residency requirements. Renstrom defeated Russ Fogel, receiving about 60% of the 353 votes cast.
Other contested races
In Donnelly, David Bruce unseated incumbent Kurt Holtan for a seat carrying a six-year term on the North Lake Recreational Sewer and Water District Board of Directors. Bruce received 27 votes to 11 votes for Holtan. Only 4% of North Lake’s 945 eligible voters cast ballots.
In Cascade, three incumbents were re-elected to their seats on the Cascade Medical Center Board of Directors. Rachel Smith, Mike Drury, and Tom Watson each received more votes than challenger Warren Sedlacek, who was 10 votes shy of unseating Watson. The 185 ballots cast represented 9% of the hospital district’s 2,156 eligible voters.
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Valley County Elections Coordinator Kierstin Oxford said voter turnout was about what the county expected.
“Looking at this data, I think levies that affect people’s property taxes bring out more voters,” Oxford said.
The results of Tuesday’s races in Valley County remain unofficial, though all precincts reported vote counts to the Valley County Elections Department by late Tuesday night. Complete results for Tuesday’s races are available here.
