CUTS IN CAPE'S CAPITAL PLAN PROPOSED; PROGRAM IS STILL TERMED `AMBITIOUS'

Cape Girardeau would spend nearly $22.6 million on capital improvements projects over the next five fiscal years under a scaled-back plan proposed by the city staff.

The City Council tonight will get its first look at the 1992-1997 Capital Improvements Program, which the staff called "reduced" but still "an ambitious program."

The five-year plan proposed last year had a budget of $37.3 million, but was amended this year to reflect reduced revenue estimates and the exclusion of any projects that require voter approval.

City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said last week that many of the projects included in last year's capital improvements plan have been "pushed back a year" due to flat tax revenues last year.

The council likely will consider the proposal in depth at a special meeting either later this month or in March.

In the plan's introduction, Fischer and Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink wrote that "implementation of this program will allow for the creation of new job opportunities, an increase in revenues to private businesses, new businesses growing, existing businesses expanding, increased tax revenues to all taxing jurisdictions, and the strengthening of the quality of life in Cape Girardeau and all of Southeast Missouri."

The largest program area in the plan is for environmental projects, where $14.5 million is budgeted for improvements. Last year, $20.8 million was earmarked for 19 separate sewer projects.

The most significant projects include the Army Corps of Engineers' flood-control project on Cape LaCroix Creek and Walker Branch and a plan to separate combined storm and sanitary sewers in the area of College and Henderson streets.

More than half ($7.5 million) of the cost of the environmental projects would be financed with Public Facilities Authority (PFA) bonds.

Revenue bonds also would finance the majority of all projects included in the overall capital improvements program. Of the total budget, $8.4 million would be financed with the bonds.

A capital improvements sales tax approved by voters to fund the city's share of the Cape LaCroix Creek-Walker Branch flood-control project is expected to generate $5.6 million for that project in the next five years.

Special assessments will be used to finance much of the street and lateral sewer projects in the plan. The tax bills will be used to finance about $2.9 million in improvements.

The transportation category of the plan includes 18 projects totalling $7 million. Several small improvement projects are proposed in the recreation category along with a proposal to pay half the cost $65,000 over the next two years to replace the bubble over Central Pool.

The five-year plan covers 43 projects, down from 56 in last year's proposal. Capital improvements are divided into four categories: transportation; environment; recreation and leisure; and community development

The transportation and environment categories both contain 18 projects each. Major street projects in the five-year plan include:

Completion of the Lexington arterial in 1994 at a total cost over the next two years of $1.6 million. Funding for this project will come from motor fuel tax receipts ($1.3 million) and special tax bills ($300,000).

Replacement of eight bridges during the next two years at a cost of $1.2 million. The work is part of the flood-control project and would be financed entirely by the capital improvements sales tax.

Extension of North Sprigg Street to Lexington at a cost of $650,000. Funding will come from special tax bills ($200,000) and the motor fuel tax ($450,000). The street is proposed for completion in 1994 to coincide with final Lexington construction.

Major street projects dropped from the plan include improvements to Perryville Road and construction of a Hopper Road bridge and extension of the street to Kage Road.

Three of the 18 projects proposed in the environment category would exceed $2 million. They include:

Cape LaCroix-Walker Creek flood control, $4 million. This represents the city's share of the Corps of Engineers' $35 million project, which is designed to alleviate storm-water flooding along Cape LaCroix and Walker creeks.

Upper Cape LaCroix trunk sewers, Phase 4, $2.4 million.

Segregation of the College and Henderson area combined sewers, $2.6 million.

In the recreation category, the city staff proposes to continue spending $75,000 annually on general park development, and this year included $125,000 in the plan for land acquisition.

In the community development category, the staff proposes spending $650,000 to relocate Fire Station No. 3.