Early voting is underway in Brookland, where residents are being asked to decide on six bond proposals totaling $27.5 million. According to Mayor Kenneth Jones, the measures do not involve any new tax increases, as the bonds would be funded by the city’s existing 2% sales tax.

“This is not a new tax,” Jones emphasized. “Bonds are a way for cities to raise money to work on projects that they have in their goals.”

Jones explained that the proposed bonds would restructure and build upon the city’s 2015-2021 bonds, which were initially approved to fund parks and recreation improvements and to construct a new municipal building for police and city offices. Rising construction costs and inflation, the mayor said, made the original bonds insufficient to fully cover those projects.

The first of the six bond proposals would refund and pay off the remaining balance of the 2015-2021 bonds, allowing for new bonds to be issued. Subsequent proposals aim to complete the earlier projects and fund new initiatives, including:

- Further improvements to parks and recreation. - Completion of the municipal building for police and city offices. - Sewer system expansions, particularly to service a new school facility. - Street enhancements such as turn lanes and signalization on School Street. - Construction of emergency shelters.

Jones highlighted the need for the sewer system improvements. “That’s a bond that we had some money on the previous bond originally planned to go down Highway 49. But with the new school being built, the council voted to move that money over and run the sewer line up to the new school. Now we just need the money to move forward.”

On the streets bond, Jones pointed to the need for enhancements on School Street. “This is probably pretty important. That will fix School Street to have turn lanes, signalization with a controlled turn,” he said.

The city is also pursuing grants to supplement the bond funding. Nevertheless, if voters reject the proposals, the existing 2% sales tax would remain in place without covering the planned projects.

Voting on the bonds is expected to continue through early voting and on Election Day.

For more information on the bond proposals and voting times, residents are encouraged to contact the Brookland City Clerk’s office.