SCHOOL BOARD HOPES THIRD TIME A CHARM FOR TAX MEASURE

Cape Girardeau Board of Education members hope the third time's a charm when voters go to the polls Tuesday.

The board is asking for approval of a waiver on the property tax rollback provided by Proposition C, the state sales tax for education. The result would be a 37-cent tax increase per $100 assessed valuation. Money is earmarked for building improvements.

Tuesday's election is the third time the school board has asked voters to approve a building-related proposal. The first two failed.

The June vote is the first of a two-tiered school improvement plan. In November, voters will be asked to approve a bond issue to fund construction of a new elementary school.

Last year, Cape Girardeau's school tax rate was $2.87. If voters restore the rate to the pre-Proposition C level, it will be $3.24. The measure requires a simple majority to pass.

The tax increase would cost the average Cape Girardeau homeowner $40.98 a year, or $3.42 a month, said school Business Manager Larry Dew. The 1990 census prices the average home in the city at $58,300.

The proposal would generate $1.1 million in new local money. That money has been earmarked by the Board of Education for capital improvements, repairs and upgrades to current buildings. The increase would also generate $1.6 million in new state funds. That money would be used to upgrade educational programs, said Kathy Swan, school board member who works on the public relations committee.

School board members and the district's maintenance staff have compiled a list of building improvements that would be made if voters say yes.

Among items on the list are electrical, lighting and plumbing improvements, improved fire protection, intercoms, computer labs, tuckpointing, parking lots, library improvements, window replacements, improvements dictated by the Americans With Disabilities Act, and matching funds for state grant money that is available.

"We have been painting and patching when what we really needed was a fix," said Swan. "This is the fix."

A public hearing held by the board on Thursday drew no audience from the public, just media representatives and school district employees.

Board members were optimistic that this third election will meet with voter approval.

In April 1993, taxpayers rejected a 99-cent tax increase that would have funded a new middle school, a new elementary school, an addition to Jefferson Elementary School, earthquake resistance, air conditioning and electrical updates.

In October 1993, voters turned down a 51-cent tax increase that would have funded construction of a new middle school and an addition to Jefferson Elementary.

After the second failure, school board members held a series of public hearings asking patrons what they wanted to see happen with school buildings.

The answer, at least in part, was to repair buildings already in use. Swan said the Proposition C rollback answers that concern.

"Repair and maintain buildings is what we heard very loud and clear at the public forums earlier this year," said Superintendent Neyland Clark.

Swan added, "And it's not all bricks and mortar. There is a direct benefit to the kids in this tax levy. Physical improvements have a direct impact on the education available to our kids."