CITY GIVES FIRST NOD TO ROAD TAX EXTENSION

Cape Girardeau City Councilman Richard "Butch" Eggimann ran for his council position on a platform of working to improve the city's streets.

Six years later he is ready to support an extension of the Transportation Trust Fund.

Council members Monday night unanimously approved on first reading an ordinance that would ask voters Aug. 8 to consider an extension of the current half-cent transportation sales tax.

The tax would be used solely for road improvements and would continue for another five years past Dec. 31. The five-year tax was first passed in 1995.

"We've done a great deal of improvements on the streets, and I see the benefits of another five years," Eggimann said. "We'd never have had the money anyplace else in the budget," he said.

The projects are paid for as they take place, which means the work doesn't begin until enough money has been collected to pay for the project. While that is a benefit of the tax, it also means that much of the construction cannot begin until near the end of the tax-collection period. The city is beginning several major Transportation Trust Fund projects now because the tax revenue is available, city officials said.

City officials estimate the tax extension to bring in about $20 million in revenue, which is what would be needed to fund the proposed projects.

If the election were held any later than August, there could be a gap in the tax collection, and the projects might be delayed past the construction season, city planners said.

In the current Transportation Trust Fund program, 20 projects were outlined as being transportation needs in the city. Only 13 projects are designated as needs in the proposed program.

However, that list of projects hasn't been finalized. The Planning and Zoning Commission, which made the initial recommendation for extending the tax, will review the list next week during its regular meeting and present any changes to the council later this month.

Some of the projects listed in the tax-extension proposal were the brainchild of Eggimann, said Mayor Albert M. Spradling III.

"He came up with the idea of replacing or placing street lights in the city," Spradling said. Plans are to upgrade existing lights and add new street lights so that every corner has a street light.

The input from residents who have made suggestions for projects or helped develop the list has been important to getting the work done, the mayor said.

Without the Transportation Trust Fund, "our streets would be dilapidating worse than they are now," Spradling said.

The council must vote on the ordinance again in two weeks. If second and third readings are approved, it would take effect 10 days later, and the measure will be placed on the ballot.

Work on other projects like Silver Springs Road, Independence Street, East Rodney and William streets under the existing program was also given approval Monday night.