Polls Open Until 7 pm

Polls will be open until 7 pm for today’s election of local initiatives in Kearney, Holt, and Clay County. There are three main issues voters will be deciding on in this fall’s election. Topics involve funding for law enforcement, fire personnel, parks, and infrastructure.

Clay County residents will vote on Proposition 1, which is a sales tax renewal for law enforcement services. This sales tax is an extension of the County’s existing law enforcement sales tax and will not increase the County’s current sales tax levy. The levy would help provide funds for law enforcement services for the County to include maintenance of current law enforcement facilities and all operational costs to provide for the incarceration of inmates.

Kearney will vote on a use tax which brings back tax dollars from the purchases of large ticket items over the internet or through the out-of-state sale of items like motor vehicles, boats, and trailers. Funds received from the use tax will go to hire two police officers, an animal control officer, build Hall Park and new pickleball courts and begin a multiple-year sidewalk building plan.

Residents who live within the Holt Community Fire Protection District of Clay and Clinton Counties are asked to vote on a tax levy to fund the operations of the district fire department. The levy would create funds to hire an additional firefighter and pay for operations expenses.

Polls open at 6 am today and will stay open until 7 pm. Voters can check their registration status and poll location on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website at s1.sos.mo.gov/elections/VoterLookup.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story