Commissioner will present plan for Proposition 1 money on Monday

Cape Girardeau County commissioners have endured criticism from the public for seeking a tax increase without having a definite spending plan detailing what would be purchased with the extra revenue.

Commissioner Jay Purcell, in response to those concerns, on Monday will present his proposal for using the money raised if Proposition 1, a half-cent countywide sales tax, wins approval on Aug. 8.

The plan, he said, will address concerns about dust control, provide long-term guidance for setting priorities for paving and how to use any surplus revenue generated by passage of the tax.

"This is in the early stages," Purcell said of his proposal.

Commissioners meet Monday for a regular session at the County Administration Building. Purcell will provide the details for his plan at 10 a.m.

Through discussions Monday and Thursday, he said, he hopes to refine the proposal so commissioners can vote on it as a policy at their July 10 meeting.

"It is not a perfect plan, but it is meant to spur discussion," Purcell said. "That is the whole point to doing it. I am sure there are some flaws and ideas that will come out of this that will improve the plan."

Proposition 1 would raise about $5.9 million in the first year. When proposed, commissioners promised the money would be used to accelerate paving of county roads, expand the sheriff's department and eliminate road and bridge property taxes in the county.

After replacing the property-tax revenue, commissioners anticipate the county treasury will have about $3.1 million extra, split between the sheriff's department and road projects.

The county uses interest revenue from its emergency fund, about $300,000 a year, to pay for paving.

When first proposed, Proposition 1 didn't anticipate any spending on dust control. But during a June 19 public hearing attended by about 60 county residents, dust control was named as a major concern.

Purcell said his proposal will use the interest funds for a dust-control program targeted toward stretches of county gravel roads in front of residences.

The spending plan outlined by the sheriff for his share of the tax money anticipates using almost $800,000 for salary increases and new deputies. The cost of equipment for the new employees hasn't been calculated, Sheriff John Jordan said, but he anticipates he won't need about $500,000 of his department's allocation in the first years of the tax.

Purcell said his proposal will include a specific list of roads for paving in the early years of the tax, which will be permanent if approved by voters.

While dust control is important, Purcell said, "the better investment is in long-term paving. We believe that if the tax passes, all county roads would be paved somewhere around the 20-year mark."

-- Rudi Keller