May 6, 2015
Bond issues result in flashy changes Recipes
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Protein-packed meals and snacks
Around Town
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“King O’the Moon”
Feature Section Submitted photo
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Wedding Guide
The passing of Proposition I in the Ferguson-Florissant School District will upgrade classroom technology, and assist in converting a district school into a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) Learning Center.
Proposition elections bring new construction and services to North County By Sara Hardin Changes are taking place throughout North County, a result of several bond issues and tax increases recently passed in the interest of making crucial improvements to the surrounding communities. Ferguson-Florissant School District officials placed Proposition I on the ballot for the recent April 7 election, seeking a no-tax-increase $31 million bond issue. The passing of Proposition I will fund upgrades to the district’s security features, building repairs and renovations. The bond issue will also upgrade classroom technology, and assist in converting a district school into a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) Learning Center. “At no additional cost to taxpayers, Proposition I will continue the stabilization and improvement of the school district,” said Rob Chabot, President of the Ferguson-Florissant Board of Education. “It will allow the district to maintain our current balanced budget and maintain the operating budget for
classroom instruction, while funding much-needed improvements to our infrastructure and technology.” Projects funded by the district’s last bond issue, approved in 2010, will be completed in the summer of 2015. Hazelwood recently passed a tax increase through Proposition P, which increased the sales tax rate in the city by a quarter-cent, from 8.863 cents to 9.113 cents. Increased payments to fire districts during August and November of 2014 created a significant budget gap for the city, resulting in the elimination of various services, reduced maintenance and the elimination of community events such as 4th of July fireworks, a city Easter egg hunt, the annual Harvest Festival, and various parks and recreation programs. “The passing of Proposition P is going to allow us to restore all of the services that we cut,” explained Hazelwood city manager Matthew Zimmerman. “When we say ‘Protect, Provide, Preserve, we’re saying ‘these are all the ser-
vices our residents are used to, help us make sure we have the money to provide all of those services.’” The full $700,000 in budget cuts to the See BOND ISSUES page 3
Over the Fence
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What my mother taught me
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