City of Cape Girardeau spending cuts detailed in memo

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The list of proposed cuts in Cape Girardeau's city budget for the year beginning July 1 includes items as small as a $15 membership at Sam's Club and as large as leaving unfilled two city police officer jobs.

As part of the process for identifying spending cuts, interim city manager Ken Eftink directed each department to reduce its budget by 3 percent. While that number wasn't achieved, the departmental cuts found $495,000 to help cover the expected $661,000 shortfall in the city's general fund.

A memo detailing each proposed spending reduction was given to city council members at a Monday evening budget study session.

Those cuts, coupled with a 5 percent increase in water, sewer and trash collection bills and an increase in the gross receipts taxes on water and sewer bills, are expected to provide the city enough money to operate without layoffs during the upcoming fiscal year.

The city is also studying whether it can scale back on plans to build a four-lane access road to be known as the Lewis & Clark Parkway to connect Center Junction with the new Interstate 55 interchange at LaSalle Avenue. Building a two-lane road could save $700,000, making that money available for other projects or to replenish the city's depleted operating reserve.

The city is also planning to increase dumping fees for wastewater haulers who use the city's sewage treatment plant for disposal, generating $200,000 to $250,000 in additional revenue.