Cape Co. officials ready for criticism of sales-tax plan

~ A public hearing on the ballot measure will be held Monday.

Cape Girardeau County residents Monday morning get their first chance to give their opinion on a proposal to increase sales taxes to pay for an accelerated county road paving program.

The Cape Girardeau County Commission didn't hold a public hearing before it decided last month to put a half-cent sales tax before voters on Aug. 8. Known on the ballot as Proposition 1, the permanent tax increase would, if approved, raise about $5.9 million the first year.

In addition to speeding up county road projects, the tax would pay for more sheriff's deputies and replace property taxes dedicated for road work.

Commissioners said they are ready for criticism and to explain how they choose individual road projects. The hearing will be at 10 a.m. in the first floor community room of the County Administration Building at 1 Barton Square in Jackson.

"We want people to show up," Commissioner Jay Purcell said. "This is a true case of wanting to hear what people have to say."

At the meeting, commissioners will have maps posted to show which county roads are paved and the locations of planned paving projects. One map will show how paving would progress without the tax. The other will show which project would be done sooner and which additional projects could be completed with the added funds.

"The main thing we would strive to do when we start out is to say it is not a perfect process," Purcell said. "But we are not going to dwell on the past. We want input from citizens on how we can move forward in a positive way."

County paving projects are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents along a gravel road must, on their own, seek easements from their neighbors and present a package to the county showing that everyone along the stretch of road has agreed. Other criteria include a stipulation that the section to be paved connect with other blacktop roads.

During their regular meeting Thursday, commissioners heard from Doug Flannery, a former candidate for the commission, who questioned the way current road funds are spent. He said that overhead costs are too high, consuming the money that could be otherwise spent on paving projects.

"It has become a monster," Flannery said. "It is eating it up."

Commissioners afterward said Flannery's figures include all salaries in the county highway department and unfairly portray those costs as overhead. The figures, they said, include pay for maintenance workers who do jobs such as run road graders, mow along county roads and work on snow removal in the winter.

But comments like Flannery's need to be aired, if only to allow for a chance to provide correct information for voters, Purcell said.

Along with the public hearing Monday, commissioners and supporters of the tax plan for public meetings in the smaller communities of Cape Girardeau County such as Delta and Old Appleton. They will also be making presentations to the Cape Girardeau City Council and the Jackson Board of Alderman as well as taking the case to area civic groups.

The vast majority of county sales tax revenue is generated by sales in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. If approved, the sales-tax rate inside Cape Girardeau will increase to 7.475 percent and in Jackson the rate would be 6.725 percent.

Selling voters on the tax increase will involve explaining that their property tax will go down, that the sheriff will provide better law enforcement and improved roads will aid county growth, Commissioner Larry Bock said.

The property tax cut should be attractive, Bock said. "There is just no argument there," he said. "It is easier to pay the sales tax."

Purcell, whose commission district includes Cape Girardeau, said the population of unincorporated areas of Cape Girardeau County is growing faster than both of the major towns. "This will help growth occur at a faster rate, with the base of Cape and Jackson to shop and get services," he said. "In turn, the citizens of those towns will benefit."

Bock agreed that the continued development of rural areas is dependent on the county providing better roads. "You need to talk to the folks out there who are eating the dust," he said. "Folks are buying land, and they want a hard surface road."

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126