Revised park tax proposal inching forward

After trimming its wish list from $31 million to $20 million, Cape Girardeau's parks and recreation advisory board found a slightly warmer reception for a tax proposal at Monday's city council meeting.

The parks board wants a half-cent sales tax, but added a 10-year limit. The board is looking at spending slightly more than $20 million on parks improvements; $3 million on storm-water abatement projects; and $2 million on replacing park vehicles.

Mayor Jay Knudtson, who has consistently said he's opposed to raising taxes, praised the effort.

Several council members, among them Matt Hopkins of Ward 5, Charlie Herbst of Ward 2 and Marcia Ritter of Ward 6, said they've been getting more favorable comments from residents regarding the tax. Hopkins said he'd been hearing more support of a water park plan and that it could be a good investment.

"We see plenty of people going to out-of-town water parks," he said. "We need to keep them here."

Ritter said she's hearing from people who would vote for the tax to pay for the city's storm-water projects. She said many of those projects were mandated and wanted to know why the original $5 million storm-water allotment was cut to $3 million.

Mike Keefe, chairman of the parks and recreation board, said the cuts were made across the board.

"This is a proposal. If the city wants to take $5 million and put it toward sewers, that's OK. We understand that," he said.

The parks board invited nine sports groups to appeal for council's support.

"We don't generate money, we generate soccer players," said Debbie Lusk, speaking to the council for the Cape Area Youth Soccer Association. She said the families of 700 players each season would probably spend more money if Shawnee Sports Complex concessions stand was bigger. She added that improved restrooms and fields could attract more tournaments, which in turn supports surrounding restaurants and hotels.

Knudtson remained concerned that taxpayer fatigue will defeat the parks tax proposal.

"Do we jeopardize future votes?" he asked, wondering aloud if such successful initiatives as the Transportation Trust Fund would suffer as well. Ward 1 Councilman John Voss agreed, saying unforeseen issues could crop up in five or 10 years, leading to even higher taxes.

"Before you know it, we're at 9, 9.5 percent and people will be going to St. Louis," he said.

Ward 3 Councilwoman Deb Tracy, as well as Herbst and several parks board members, insisted that voters should decide whether they want to pay the tax.

The council agreed to consider putting on the ballot. Hopkins said since a regular election is scheduled for April, that month "would be the logical choice."

Knudtson asked the council to defer any decision until after a budget summit, to be scheduled for later this month.

According to City Attorney Doug Cunningham, the last day the council can consider a ballot proposal for the April election is Dec. 17.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

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