Unofficial returns from the Nov. 4 election show that Slidell voters approved six of the seven proposed charter changes.

The changes affecting how vacancies on the Slidell Council, the Mayor’s Office and the Chief of Police passed easily by big margins. So did propositions that gave the mayor only seven days to either sign or veto legislation and a change that adopts the new Louisiana Code of Ethics for the city.

The one change that met with voter disapproval was Proposition 5, that would allow the council to approve bond issues that are backed by existing revenue streams, such as utility revenue, without going to the voters for approval. Proposition 5 failed with 5,062, or 56 percent, voting no, and 4,028, or 44 percent voting yes. Council President Ray Canada said the change was needed to give the council enough time to issue bonds at favorable interest rates.

“Timing is everything in bond issues,” Canada said.

When a capital project needs funding, bonds are usually issued to fund the project. In order to take advantage of the best interest rates, it is important to issue the bonds as soon as possible, Canada said. If the charter change had been approved and a bond issue backed by an existing revenue stream was approved by the council, then bonds could be issued quickly.

Canada said without the change, the council will now have to set up an election for approval of a bond issue even if there is no new tax proposed to pay the debt service. That means the extra cost of an election and perhaps losing out on a low interest loan for the bonds.

Canada admitted the city did not explain it well enough to the electorate.

“Just saying bond, some people see it as a new sales tax, and that is incorrect,” Canada said.

He added that if a bond issue needs an increase in taxes or a new tax, then the council has to call an election.

Proposition 1 which sets up a procedure to fill a sudden vacancy on the council, passed with 6,312, or 69.2 percent, voting yes, and 2,799, or 30.7 percent, voting no.

The charter was proposed after the council lost two council members, Pearl Williams and Kevin Kingston, in one year. The council went over six months without a replacement for Williams, and Kingston’s at large seat is still vacant after he died in July. The new law will allow the council to appoint someone to fill the vacancy until the next election. The appointee would not be able to run in the election.

Canada said the council would have to wait until the Registrar of Voters officially certifies the election before an appointee can be named. Council Administrator Tommy Reeves said the election should be certified by today, and the appointment for Kingston’s seat will probably be done at the council’s Nov. 18 meeting.

“We do want to appoint someone as soon as possible,” Canada said.