5-CENT TAX PROPOSED FOR ELDERLY

JACKSON - Voters in Cape Girardeau County will have an opportunity to decide April 2 whether to enact a 5-cent property tax levy to help fund services for senior citizens.

On Thursday, the Cape County Commission unanimously approved putting the matter on the spring ballot. The measure would fund services for those age 60 and over.

Representatives of the Cape Girardeau and Jackson nutrition centers and the county Council on Aging had appeared before the commission several times last year trying to get the issue put before voters.

But the commissioners declined to take action. They advised the representatives that even though the commission had the authority to order the tax measure on the ballot, its past policy had been to require supporters of issues to secure close to the 1,800-2,000 signatures from registered voters that would require them to put it on the ballot.

This procedure was used for the county health department tax levy and for implementing a levy for mental health. Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said securing the signatures would provide a clear indication that there was public support for the tax issue and that it stood a reasonable chance of passage.

But all three commissioners agreed Thursday that the group had given the tax matter some serious consideration and had a pretty good idea of what use could be made of the funds. That was the key factor in the commission's decision.

"Since senior citizens are involved, we did not politically feel right about you seeking petitions; it would be a very difficult process," Huckstep told Glen Lampley, a board member of the Cape Nutrition Center. "This will probably come back some day to haunt us for not sticking to our petition process, but this is what we plan to do now.

"Good luck and get to work," declared Huckstep.

Also appearing before the commission were Russel Faust, a member of the Cape Girardeau Council on Aging and president of the Cape Nutrition Center; Jack Slaughter, past president of the center and a president of Cape County Transit; and Cecelia Sonderman, a member of the nutrition center board.

Rupert Fiehler, president of the Jackson Senior Center, had appeared before the commission before but was unable to attend Thursday. He did sign a letter requesting it be put on the ballot.

The group presented a handout to the commission pointing out that the fund would provide for: programs which will improve the health, nutrition, and quality of life of persons 60 years of age or older; expansion of services at nutrition centers; expansion of home-delivered meals to shut-ins; more available transportation for medical care and shopping; and expanded personal care, respite and home work services so help can be given the frail elderly.

The handout also indicated that approximately 11,048 of the county's 61,379 residents are 60 years of age and over. That statistic comes from preliminary 1990 census information.

"There is no doubt in my mind they could easily get the signatures," said Huckstep in explaining the commission's change.

In exchange for waiving the petitions, Huckstep asked the group if they would agree to reimburse the county for the costs of holding the election, should the tax pass. Lampley said he would support that idea.

"If you pass the tax, you pay us; if you lose it, it is just gone," said Huckstep.

The county's share of the election cost in April will be around $5,000.

Associate Commissioner Leonard F. Sander noted, "When they were here before, all they wanted was the money. Now they have at least a general plan for where the money will be used."

Huckstep pointed out that the commission had told the representatives they needed to be able to show a need and specific areas where funds would be used before citizens would support it.

In 1989, the Missouri General Assembly passed a law allowing counties to levy up to a 5-cent property tax, earmarked for a Senior Citizens Service Fund.

A 5-cent levy would generate about $220,000 a year in Cape County; the levy would amount to $5.70 a year in taxes on a home with a market value of $60,000.

Under the law, the commission would appoint a seven-member board of directors to review requests for the funds from organizations providing services to the elderly in Cape County.

Last year, voters in Bollinger County rejected the tax for senior citizens; however, it was approved in Butler County.

Sander encouraged the group to work hard toward passage and predicted it would be a challenge.

"Any kind of tax you try now, you have to sell it to the people," said Sander.