Cape tax issues defeated soundly by voters

Voters soundly rejected Cape Girardeau's four tax and fee issues on Tuesday, leaving frustrated city officials to worry about trying to make do with a tight budget.

"The people have spoken loud and clear," said Mayor Jay Knudtson after watching the ballot measures go down to defeat in precinct after precinct by wide margins.

Knudtson said the city will continue to provide services as best it can. He said he doubts the city council will consider asking voters for a tax increase for at least a year.

"We will work and we will manage with the resources that we have," he told subdued supporters of the ballot issues at city hall.

City officials blamed the outcome partly on a poor economy.

"We are in tough times right now," the mayor said.

City officials had sought passage of a quarter-cent sales tax, a local-use tax, a storm-water fee and replacement of a 10-cent property tax.

Voters rejected all four issues in 14 of the 16 city precincts. The sales tax -- which would have provided funding for the fire department -- passed in Precinct 4, whose voters cast ballots at the Centenary United Methodist Church, and Precinct 16, whose voters cast ballots at LaCroix United Methodist Church. Voters rejected the other three issues in every city precinct.

The four issues would have provided an estimated $4.1 million a year in added revenue for operating expenses, replacement of equipment, and construction of storm-drainage improvements, a new fire station and a water park, as well as expansion of the police station.

City officials said they can't afford any of the projects, including storm-drainage improvements, without more tax money.

Voters rejected the sales tax by a vote of 2,155 for to 2,812 against with 56.61 percent of those voting saying no.

The local-use tax, which would have taxed out-of-state purchases above $2,000, was defeated by a vote of 1,597 for to 3,083 against.

A proposal to establish a storm-water fee to pay for drainage improvements was defeated by a vote of 1,689 for to 3,260. Both the local-use tax and the storm-water fee were opposed by 65.8 percent of the voters who cast ballots.

Voters handily defeated the property tax measure by a vote of 1,475 for to 3,475 against with over 70 percent of the voters saying no.

Election officials said only 5,068 of the city's 22,391 registered voters, or 22.6 percent, went to the polls.

Nancy Jernigan, who co-chaired a citizens task force that recommended the tax and fee package and campaigned for its passage, suggested that the four ballot issues may have confused some voters.

The citizens campaign group, Invest 4 Cape, spent between $2,500 and $3,000 seeking passage of the funding measures -- much of it on mailings.

City manager Michael Miller said city officials and citizens task force members tried to convince voters that the city needs more revenue.

"Evidently they didn't buy our message," he said.

The only public opposition to the tax measures came from businessman Jim Drury, a vocal critic of city government who sent a flier to 14,000 households late last week.

At the Arena Building polling place, voters offered varying views.

Billy DeGrant voted against all four issues, citing the poor economy. He said city residents can't afford to pay higher taxes.

But Bob and Alene Matthews, who are retired, voted for all four tax and fee issues.

"We are always for progress," Bob Matthews said.

Tom Giles voted no on all four issues and said he opposed the water park. "I don't think the city should be in the entertainment business."

mbliss@semissourian.com

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