Petersburg voters decide three fiscal propositions and eight local boards

Petersburg Borough voters are electing members of eight local governing and advisory bodies Tuesday and deciding three propositions on electric-utility borrowing and sales taxes.

Polls are open 8 am to 8 pm at the Parks and Recreation Activities Room, 500 N. Third St. Absentee ballots sent by email or fax are due by 8 pm; mailed ones count if postmarked by Tuesday and received before the canvass.

Four candidates seek two three-year Assembly terms: Sarah Fine-Walsh, Tom Kowalske, Donna Marsh and incumbent Jeigh M. Stanton Gregor. Don Koenigs and incumbent Scott Newman seek one one-year term.

No board race has more printed candidates than seats. Candidates, for three-year terms unless noted, are:

• School Board: Katherine Holmlund and Marc Taylor (two years)

• Hospital Board: Jerod Cook and Janet Kvernvik

• Planning Commission: Jim E. Floyd, Chris Fry and Heather O'Neil

• Harbor and Ports Advisory Board: Andrew W. Kittams and John Murgas

• Library Board: Gina Esposito, Marilyn Menish-Meucci and Lizzie Thompson

• Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: Thomas Fine-Walsh and Tyler Thain

• Public Safety Advisory Board: John Lichtenberger, Mark Tuccillo and Greg Browning (one year)

Three seats have no printed candidate: the Planning Commission's two-year and one-year terms and a third Harbor and Ports seat. Write-in lines appear for each office.

Proposition 1 would authorize up to $3.315 million in electric-utility revenue bonds to finish the Scow Bay Standby Generation Project and cover financing costs. The bonds could run no more than 20 years and would be repaid solely from electric-utility revenue after operating and maintenance costs. A yes vote does not require issuing the full amount at once.

Proposition 2 would raise the maximum single transaction subject to Petersburg's 6% sales tax from $1,200 to $5,000, lifting the maximum tax per purchase from $72 to $300. Purchases of $1,200 or less are unaffected.

Proposition 3, a citizen initiative, would exempt qualified borough residents age 70 and older who meet residency requirements from the sales tax. It would not change the existing exemption for qualifying low-income residents 65 and older. Voters added that income limit last October, 633 to 625, and it took effect Jan. 1. A no vote keeps only the low-income exemption.

The official sample ballot lists all candidates and full proposition language. Results are unofficial until the borough canvasses and certifies the election Friday, Oct. 9, at noon.