Voter turnout for the April 4 Consolidated Election dropped to less than 15 percent for both Madison and St. Clair Counties.
In Madison County, the unofficial election results indicate that 24,049 ballots were cast out of 182,637 registered voters, or 13.17 percent voter turnout. Madison County saw 16.95 percent voter turnout in the 2021 Consolidated Election with 32,033 ballots cast.
In St. Clair County, 18,495 ballots were cast out of 165,386 registered voters, or 11 percent. St. Clair County saw 13.23 percent voter turnout in 2021 with 24,729 ballots cast.
Only one voter showed up to decide on a resolution to increase the property tax rate for Aviston Elementary School District #21 in Madison County, rejecting the measure. The resolution sought to increase the property tax rate from .92 percent to 1.17 percent in order to hire additional staff and update the curriculum.
Voters supported a tax bond for Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 with 64.52 percent approving the referendum and 35.48 percent voting against it.
According to the Edwardsville Board of Education, the referendum will not change the bond and interest tax levy, calling it a "$100 million zero-tax rate change bond referendum.” The district’s current tax rate is $4.6829.
The bond will be used to install double-entry doors to improve safety and security at the schools, remediate asbestos at Hamel Elementary School, renovate Lincoln Middle School, allocate up to $2 million for repairs at Midway Elementary School, provide “safe and accessible” playgrounds at all primary and intermediate schools and gymnasiums at three district schools, create media centers and expand the commons at Edwardsville High School.
“We have continued to work with the architects and construction management firms we have partnered with to refine the projects in a way that will maximize the use of taxpayer dollars and allow the district to accomplish the most possible. This means that those projects at the top of the list will be given priority, while those at the bottom will be done if funding is available,” the school board states.
In Livingston, a municipal tax levy was approved by voters with 69.6 percent supporting the measure and 30.4 percent voting against it.
The 1 percent tax increase will be used for municipal operations, public infrastructure and property tax relief.
Voters also supported a measure seeking to eliminate the Granite City Treasurer position, combining the treasurer’s and comptroller’s responsibilities. It passed with 58.67 percent of voters approving the ballot question and 41.33 percent voting against it.
In St. Clair County, voters rejected a $10,000 bond for Freeburg High School District #77.
The ballot question asked, “Shall the Board of Education Freeburg Community High School District Number 77, St. Clair and Washington Counties, Illinois, improve the site of and alter, repair and equip the Freeburg Community High School Building, including construction of a new gymnasium, and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $10,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?"
Roughly 62 percent of voters said no while 38 percent supported the measure.
Voters in the City of Columbia supported a resolution asking if the city should become a home rule unit, with 55 percent voting for the measure and 45 percent voting against it.
According to the city’s website, home rule communities are “able to exercise any power and perform any function unless expressly prohibited by state law.”
“Home Rule communities may be more flexible in finding local solutions to local issues and are not as burdened by state-imposed mandates and regulations. This means the individuals Columbians elect to fill the Offices of Mayor and Aldermen assume actual responsibility for City government,” it states.
Stookey Township residents approved a ballot question asking if the Township Board should be authorized to “enter into a contract for the collection, disposal, composting or recycling of garbage, refuse and ashes within the unincorporated area of the township.”
Roughly 61 percent supported the measure on refuse collection and disposal while 39 percent rejected it.