Decision on sales taxes delayed by city council

The Cape Girardeau City Council voted unanimously not to ask voters to renew a hotel/motel tax before in the November election.

Mayor Harry Rediger brought up the proposition during the council's study session Monday night, saying he did not believe the council was "ready to vote at this time." The decision of what project should be funded by the restaurant tax, also up for renewal, has been delayed as well.

Suggestions for the restaurant tax money include a police or public safety station, an indoor sports complex, a new water slide at Cape Splash and a visitors center and other historically-focused tourism projects for the downtown area.

Rediger said postponing the vote means the city will not be able to put the question of renewal on the November ballot, but an ordinance could be passed in time for the April election.

"We could have it prepared for a vote in April, but that's not a given," he said. "I hope to have a decision made in the next 90 days. I don't want to elongate the process, but I think 90 days is reasonable."

Rediger said he wanted to use the time not only to speak more with the council about defining a project, but also speak with entities that have or would wish to submit proposals. He said it was an opportunity to encourage more public input.

"Recent discussions brought new information to the table and we were fighting a tight time frame trying to bring this to fruition for a November vote," Rediger said. "I think it would be best for all, especially the citizens, to have more public input."

Councilman Wayne Bowen has been a longtime advocate of delaying an official vote until a project could be agreed upon by the council. He said the November date was an "artificial deadline" and delaying the vote was the right move.

"It allows more time to give more input and be more deliberate about whatever path we take going forward," he said. "I didn't see the urgency in pushing for a November ballot."

The restaurant tax was last renewed to pay for the building of the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus. The tax will sunset once bonds for that project have been paid off.

Bowen estimates the bonds will be paid off in early 2014, possibly before the April election. If that were to happen, it would be the first time since the tax was passed in 1983 that it was allowed to lapse without renewal.

The councilman said he doesn't believe a possible lapse would represent a large problem for the city.

"If it does lapse, I don't see why we can't vote to bring it back later," he said.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.