St Joseph voters easily approved a sewer bond issue, but voter turnout was less than the modest predictions of Buchanan County’s chief election officer.

Just 7.42 percent of eligible voters turned out to decide the ballot issue Tuesday. County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey predicted ten percent turnout.

The final tally was 88.3% yes, 11.7% no.
(2,837 people voted yes, and 376 voted no)

 

The vote allows the City Council to apply for bonds at greatly reduced interest rates to fund the latest phase of the mandated sewer renovation. Financing the $190 million project with bonds through the State Revolving Fund is expected to save the city about $53 million over the life of the 20-year bonds.