OWNERS MAY HAVE TO PAY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS WITH ROAD SALES TAX

Some Cape Girardeau property owners could end up dealing with more than road construction. They may end up with some major tax bills as the city seeks to recoup some of the construction costs through special assessments.

The whole issue of special assessments is one city hall should tackle before an anticipated Aug. 8 election on a five-year, half-cent sales tax to fund road and bridge projects, City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said.

There are some options, he said, but the ultimate policy decisions rest with the City Council.

City Planner Kent Bratton said the city might look at capping special assessment costs for residents along gravel streets to be paved.

There has been talk of capping costs at $10 a front foot, but Fischer said the remaining gravel streets could prove costly to pave.

They have "unique problems," Fischer said. Some streets are hilly. Others have storm drainage problems that would have to be tackled as part of the paving work.

The Planning and Zoning Commission has proposed 20 major road and bridge projects to be funded if voters approve a transportation sales tax.

The list includes $1.1 million for paving the city's remaining two miles of gravel streets.

That figure doesn't include paving Melody Lane as part of the Lexington extension project, slated for this year.

The city could consider paying half the paving cost of the remaining gravel streets or look into securing a grant to help low-income residents pay their assessments, Bratton said.

Paul Brown lives on Jasmine Lane, a short gravel street a block from the solid pavement of Lexington Avenue.

Brown and some of his neighbors on Dixie and Magnolia are tired of living on gravel streets.

Brown wants his street paved and he doesn't mind paying for it with a special assessment. "I'd do it myself if they would let me," he said.

Other projects also could end up costing property owners.

An estimated $2.5 million is projected to repair streets and sidewalks under the five-year transportation tax plan.

Fischer said the council must decide whether property owners should pay for some of these improvements through special assessments.

Fischer said special assessments are paid off over a 10-year period, but contractors have to be paid when the work is done.

"The city has to come up with the money up front," he said. A transportation tax would help do that.

On major street projects, property owners could be charged $25 a front foot or donate needed right of way in lieu of such a charge, Bratton suggested.

Special assessments historically have been levied on road projects. The city expects to spend $1.9 million in special assessments for transportation and public works projects in the five-year capital improvements plan.

That plan includes some, but not all the projects outlined by the planning commission.

Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Harry Rediger said city residents will want to know for what improvements they might be taxed.

"The more we can get answers up front, the better sell job we will be able to do," he said.