There aren’t any contested races for Milford City Council this year, but residents and property owners can still vote on April 26 in the water utility project funding referendum.
Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Milford Public Works Facility, 180 Vickers Drive, in the Greater Milford Business Park.
The referendum was scheduled to coincide with the council election, but only one candidate filed in each of the four wards, so no council election is needed.
Referendum voting is open to state-registered voters living in the city limits and to eligible nonresident property owners who have registered at Milford City Hall. For more information, see the Milford website, email [email protected]v or call 302-422-1111 ext. 1142.
Voters will be deciding whether to authorize bonds to finance the design, engineering and construction of water utility infrastructure improvements including a water tower, drinking water well and a treatment facility to supply the northwest service area and other related projects.
The amount of the bonds shall not exceed $8.5 million with an average interest rate not to exceed 7.0%
A public hearing on the referendum was held March 10.
No property tax hike or utility rate increase with this referendum, city leaders say
According to the public notice, the bonds will be paid for or funded primarily from accumulated water impact fee reserves and anticipated water impact fee receipts and secondarily from tax revenues of future businesses and developments.
However, no property tax increase and no utility rate hike will occur with this referendum.
“Property taxes and utility rates will not go up because of this,” said Milford public information officer Lauren Swain.
Approval of voters is required to authorize the long-term financing of the projects.
If approved, the bonds will be funded by the water impact fee reserves that have been paid by new businesses and developments and the impact fees and taxes that future businesses and developments will pay, such as tenants in the new Milford Corporate Center at Canterbury Road (Route 15) and Milford Harrington Highway (Route 14).
Unofficial results will be tallied and announced after the polls close April 26 at the public works facility and also posted on the Milford website later that night, Swain said.
On April 28, the Milford Board of Elections will meet to certify the results.
3 incumbents among 4 council members automatically elected
Without any contested races, the following candidates will be automatically elected this year:
Third Ward council member Nirmala Samaroo didn’t run for reelection.
Terms are for two years.
The holdover council members who will be up for election in 2026 are Madula Kalesis in the First Ward, Lori Connor in the Second Ward, Michael Stewart in the Third Ward and Katrina E. Wilson in the Fourth Ward.
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Reporter Ben Mace covers real estate, development and business news. Reach him at [email protected].