CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Proponents of a 5-cent property tax levy to fund senior citizen programs in Cape Girardeau County say the tax needs more explanation.
"People just don't understand it," said Russel Faust, a member of the Cape Girardeau Council on Aging and president of the Cape Nutrition Center. "They think it's only going to fund the nutrition center when it will actually fund numerous other programs too."
The tax, if approved by voters in April, will generate about $220,000 annually in the county to fund health, nutrition and quality of life programs for people 60 years of age and older. A simple majority is needed for the measure to pass.
Monday, representatives from the Cape Girardeau and Jackson nutrition centers and the county Council on Aging met in Cape Girardeau to organize efforts to educate the public about the tax.
Faust said money generated from the tax would fund several county-wide senior citizen programs. Not only would funds provide for meals and activities at the nutrition centers, the Eldercare program and home services would also be funded, he said.
"Transportation is what's really needed in the county," he said. "People don't realize how often the elderly need people to come to their homes or to take them places."
In-home services provided by the county are designed to help the elderly with household chores or with their own personal care. Transportation to medical care facilities, grocery stores and senior centers will also be funded, he said.
Cape Girardeau County has about 11,155 residents over the age of 60, including 3,906 over the age of 75. About 15 percent of those people have a monthly income at or below poverty level.
Faust said he feels voters don't understand the cost of the proposed tax to the average citizen.
The levy would amount to five cents on every $100 assessed in personal property.
"People don't understand," he said. "They think it's five cents on a dollar."
Faust stressed that the tax is much-needed.
"It would help with transportation, with outreach programs at both hospitals, and any senior group such as Eldercare," he said. "The county is in dire need of these programs."
In late January, the Cape Girardeau County Commission unanimously approved putting the proposed tax on the April ballot.
If approved, the commission will appoint seven directors to represent all areas of senior citizen care in the county. The directors are unpaid.
Faust said the directors would receive requests for funding from organizations providing service to elderly in the county. "These seven directors will decide how to distribute the money," he said.
No salaries, rent, utilities or office equipment will be paid with money generated by the tax.
Faust said Monday's meeting was held so that people who are for the tax could organize their efforts to educate the public about what services the tax would fund.
He said information sheets will be passed out to voters and civic organizations.
The cost to the county for April's election will be about $5,000.
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