Certification reveals defeat of downtown property tax

Certified election results show a win for the sales tax issue considered by Cape Girardeau voters living within the boundaries of the downtown community improvement district, but a loss for the property-tax issue.

The Cape Girardeau County Clerk's office reported 51 votes were received for Proposition 1, the measure creating a half-cent sales tax to be levied within the district's boundaries. Of that number, 31 were in favor and 20 were against.

Mail-in ballots for Proposition 1 were due by 7 p.m. Tuesday. Ballots for Proposition 2, which would have created a property tax of $0.6709 per $100 assessed valuation within the district, had to be postmarked by Tuesday but were accepted until the county clerk's office certified the vote at 2 p.m. Thursday. The certified results showed 54 mail-in ballots were submitted, with 26 voting in favor of Proposition 2 and 28 voting against.

The ballots initially were distributed Sept. 2 to the 180 registered voters living within the district. Its boundaries include the riverfront areas of Water, Main and Spanish streets and also covers the eastern section of Broadway.

Proponents of the community improvement district have said funds from the taxes would go toward improving safety and cleanliness downtown. Jim Maurer, chairman of the downtown community improvement district steering committee, said it's unfortunate the property tax was not approved, but plans will move forward.

"Since the sales tax did pass, the CID will move ahead; we just have a few less funding dollars to move ahead with," he said.

A property tax imposed within the special business district in the riverfront area of Spanish, Main and Water streets already exists but would have dissolved once the CID property tax took effect. The taxes were equal in value, meaning property owners in that area would not notice any difference. But those along Broadway who fell within the CID's boundaries would have paid the tax for the first time in 2015. Maurer said the existing property tax will remain in effect for now.

That special business district property tax generates about $20,000 annually and has paid for improvement projects such as streetlights, the clock at the intersection of Themis and Main streets and some parking areas.

The CID property tax would have generated $50,000 annually. Maurer said shifting to the CID tax also meant the money could be spent on maintenance. Property tax funds from the special business district may be used only for capital improvements.

Determining when the sales tax will take effect in the district is a matter of meeting quarterly deadlines. Maurer said the tax likely would not go into effect until the start of 2015. It's estimated to bring in about $200,000 a year.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.