Millage renewal to be on November’s ballot

On the November 4 ballot, the City of Kaplan will be asking voters to renew half of the 6.11 operating millage for property taxes.
“I want everyone to be made aware this is NOT a property tax increase,” said Kaplan Mayor Kirk Champagne. “It is just a renewal. Everything will be exactly as it was before.”
The money generated from the millage will be earmarked to improve street and drainage in the city.
This is how the renewal works. The city will sell a $1 million bond and repayment of this bond will be from the property tax collection.
Four years ago, Champagne said the city engineer did an evaluation of the condition of all the streets in the city.
“Based on this evaluation is how the council will determine which streets will get worked on,” said the mayor. “Two streets getting top priority right away is Bert Street to Highway 35. The other is Jan Street from Highway 35 to the city limits line.”
Several problem areas with severe drainage problems will take top priority. These locations include on the 200 block of Saltzman, the corner of Ninth and Irving Streets, and the intersection on the curve of Herpin, Cheneau and Highway 35.
Champagne said all these locations will be evaluated for find the best possible solution to the drainage problems residents are having.
“Again,” said the mayor, “I can’t emphasize enough for people to understand, this is a renewal, not an additional tax. Please go out and vote for your candidate, and remember to vote to renew the millage.”