CITY HOPES FOR SUGGESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS TO HELP PLAN UPCOMMING BUDGET

A new, electronic comment form that allows Cape Girardeau residents to submit budget suggestions to the city is not generating the response officials hoped it would.

"We've received exactly two," said Assistant City Manager Walter Denton. "They both came in on Jan. 16. We haven't received any since."

This is the first time the city has enabled residents to submit comments electronically. Denton said the idea was born after several officials expressed interest in getting the community more involved in the budgeting process.

Even though residents can submit ideas anytime, requests sometimes turn up after the budget already is put together.

"This is the first time I remember since I've been here where we have tried to solicit up-front comments before the budgeting process begins rather than on the back end," Denton said.

"If citizens have some comments, they're more likely to be considered before the budget is put together rather than at the end."

To submit suggestions, residents can go to thecity's World Wide Web site, www.showme.net/capecity/, and follow a link to the form. They are asked to provide a name and address for verification.

Recommendations for the upcoming budget should be submitted electronically by Feb. 16. Responses received later will be filed for the 2002-2003 budget.

A committee will meet early March through April to put together a budget to present to the city council for approval.

Residents who do not have access to e-mail or the Internet are invited to submit their suggestions in writing to the city manager.

There is a chance, Denton said, that requests received later than Feb. 16 could be considered for next year's budget, but he urges residents to act soon.

"The later we receive it, the harder it's going to be to put it in," he said. "As decisions get made, there's less and less money to work with."