Editorial

Yes on TTF-4

Anyone who has resided in Cape Girardeau 15 years or more can do a quick mental comparison of the city's streets and sidewalks then and now. In 1995, voters approved a half-cent sales tax to be used expressly for streets and sidewalks. Since then, $60 million has been committed for projects like widening Broadway, rebuilding much of Independence Street, improvements to Siemers Drive and other major projects.

Some of the revenue from the tax, which goes into the city's Transportation Trust Fund, is used for repairs and upgrades to existing streets. Since the TTF program began, nearly all of Cape Girardeau's gravel streets have been paved.

The TTF program has affected the city in many ways, one of which is economic development. Businesses have been started and expanded as a result of the improvements made over the last 15 years. And because TTF is a pay-as-you-go program, the city has incurred no debt expense for these projects.

Each TTF program is for five years. Voters are asked to extend the sales tax at the end of each five-year program. Cape Girardeau's voters are being asked to extend the tax for a third time Aug. 3. A yes vote will continue this sound program.

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