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Mehlville board approves Prop A ballot language after district survey shows majority support
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Summary
The Mehlville R-IX Board approved proposed ballot language for Proposition A to make a temporary capital levy permanent and redirect 2.4¢ of debt-service levy to operating, producing an estimated $1.4 million annually; district survey of 1,137 respondents showed majority support.
The Mehlville R-IX Board of Education voted unanimously Aug. 21 to place proposed Proposition A language on the Nov. 2025 ballot, after district officials presented community survey results and the levy proposal.
Jessica Papillo, chief communications officer, told the board the district received 1,137 completed mailed and online surveys, a 33% response rate, with a margin of error of ±3% at a 95% confidence level. "We had 1,137 completed online and mailed back surveys, which is a 33% response rate," Papillo said. Mailed-only responses showed roughly 59% support, Papillo added.
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Hogg described the ballot measure as a combination of two steps: making a temporary capital levy permanent and redirecting 2.4¢ of the district's debt-service levy to operating funds. "This levy brings in approximately $822,000 annually," Hogg said, and he said the 2.4¢ transfer would add an estimated $605,000, for a combined projected increase of about $1.4 million each year. The board was told the funds would be restricted to buses, roofing, parking-lot maintenance, technology, security and HVAC.
Board members framed the proposal as a way to provide predictable funding for recurring capital needs and to avoid shifting money from classroom programs to cover maintenance. Citing past facility shortfalls, trustees said the measure is intended to sustain district improvements rather than raise the tax rate. The board approved the ballot language 7–0.
The district estimates recurring needs of roughly $2.3 million annually and said the proposed $1.4 million would cover about 61% of those costs. The board directed staff to file the approved language with the Board of Elections for placement on the November ballot.
Procedure and next steps: the board voted to file the approved Prop A language with the Board of Elections; voters will decide the measure in November.
