COUNCIL, SCHOOL BOARD TO MEET

There is no agenda for today's joint meeting of Cape Girardeau's city council and school board, but members of both hope to learn a lot.

The two groups will meet at 5:30 p.m. today at City Hall.

Councilman Melvin Gateley originally proposed the informal session, saying there were issues in Cape Girardeau that concern both the City Council and the Board of Education.

He said Wednesday that the city wants to do all it feasibly can to keep area schools thriving. Good schools mean more economic development.

Gateley knows about the tie between city government and school districts from both sides. He worked in Cape Girardeau School District for 28 years, finishing his career as principal at Schultz School.

"Our basic concern is the welfare of the city of Cape Girardeau and the people who live here," Gateley said. "We need to show good old common sense and work together."

School board President Bob Fox plans to be in attendance today. He said he is most interested in the city road plan.

Information about proposed roads will be vital to the district's school planning. A committee recently presented information about what facilities are needed. Board members must decide which ones should be built, how to finance them and where to put them.

The newest road plan the district refers to was released in 1991, Fox said.

Another concern of the district is the Enterprise Zone. Businesses inside specific Cape Girardeau neighborhoods normally receive a 50 percent abatement on their property taxes. Alliance Blue Cross and Blue Shield, a business that recently announced it will build in Cape Girardeau, was offered a 100 percent abatement as an incentive to come here.

That means Cape Girardeau public schools lose tax money they would have received otherwise, but the school board doesn't have an official vote regarding the decision on tax abatement.

"I was not in favor of abating 100 percent of the taxes," Fox said. "I think that sets a bad precedent. But I am all for economic development and for more jobs. In this case, it was a compromise that had to be reached to get the business here."

The two groups also may discuss their individual upcoming bond issues and the effect one may have on another. In November, the city will ask voters to approve a $26.5 million bond issue for water system improvements. Voters also will be asked to pay the debt service with a quarter-cent sales tax.

The school system wants a bond issue to build new facilities and end overcrowding. It may be on April's ballot at the earliest. If it passes, the debt service will have to be paid with property taxes.