CAPE'S NEW TAX GENERATES $475,000

Cape Girardeau raked in more transportation sales-tax money than expected during the first quarter of this year, allowing progress on road paving and widening projects.

The half-cent sales tax was passed in August 1995 and began Jan. 1. First-quarter income was $457,000, said John Richbourg, city finance director. The total showed a steady 4.7-percent growth rate in Cape Girardeau's taxable sales, while the city forecasted only a 3 percent rate.

"With only three months to look at, there isn't going to be a good way to interpret the numbers," Richbourg said. "You can't spot a trend."

When officials campaigned for the tax -- earmarked for road improvements, traffic signals and other transportation related projects -- they predicted $3.2 million would be collected the first year. About $17 million, they said, should be collected by the time the tax ends Dec. 31, 2000.

In some municipal improvement plans, cities pass bond issues and then use a sales tax to pay the debt. This isn't the case with Cape Girardeau's transportation sales tax; as money comes in, it is spent on 20 projects established by the public during a series of meetings last year.

City Manager Michael G. Miller said he was "very pleased" with the information. He started his job with the city in October, after the tax was passed, but said he was glad to be working with the additional funds.

"These types of taxes are the lifeblood of a community," Miller said. "Cape is a vibrant, growing community, and you can't handle growth with an out-of-date infrastructure."

Mayor Al Spradling III said passage of the tax to pave roads was a logical alternative to spending money on gravel and grading year after year. Residents on those streets can pay $10 per frontage foot for work instead of $35 or more.

Projects on Bloomfield Road, Perryville Road, Broadway and other roadways are in the planning stages.

Cape Girardeau's retail business is growing steadily, drawing shoppers from around the area to help pay the sales tax. But Richbourg said the city can't become too comfortable with the situation.

"We have been spoiled," he said. "These growth rates won't continue forever, so we have to plan. One of these days we will be in another recession."

TRANSPORATION PROJECTS

Cape Girardeau's 1/2 cent transportation sales tax raised $457,000 in the first quarter of 1996.

The money is bweing used to fund construction projects. Several are under way.

*Brucher Street -- asphalt under construction.

*Jasmine, Magnolia and Dixie -- asphalt plans and specifications being reviewed.

*Rand -- asphalt under design.

*Perryville Road, near Meyer Drive to the city limits -- engineering firm selected.

*Hopper Road, Mount Auburn west of Kage Road -- engineering contract approved, construction plans due in May, right-of-way acquisition to begin.

*Silver Springs Road, William to Independence -- right-of-way drawings complete.

*Broadway widening -- engineers selected and contract awarded.