SIKESTON OFFICIALS ALSO SEEK FUNDING

JEFFERSON CITY -- Several Sikeston officials told members of a Missouri Senate committee Wednesday they needed authority to impose a sales tax for public safety because of serious crime problems.

Police Capt. Bob Gee said revenues from the sales tax would put more officers on the streets. He said the additional officers are needed, because Sikeston is "being overwhelmed with violence.

"When we go to fight a fire in certain parts of town, we have to fight the public before we can fight the fire," Gee told the panel.

Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, is sponsoring two bills to give cities the authority to let voters decide whether to impose a sales tax of up to one cent for law enforcement.

Counties in Missouri already have the authority to impose up to a half-cent sales tax for law enforcement with voter approval. However, cities lack that authority under current law.

Kinder presented both bills to the Senate Agriculture and Local Government Committee.

SB-153 would give Sikeston the authority to impose the tax and SB-213 makes it available to all cities.

Kinder told the committee there had been "an invasion of youth gangs uncommon in outstate Missouri."

He added that there was "an explosion of juvenile crime that threatens to overwhelm municipal resources."

Kinder told of several instances where officers had been injured or prevented from doing their jobs because of interference by mobs and gangs.

He suggested the city's location at the intersection of two interstate highways could be a factor.

State Rep. Joe Heckemeyer, D-Sikeston, also attended the hearing. He has filed a bill in the House that would give all third-class cities authority to impose up to a half-cent sales tax for public safety.

Heckemeyer said he hopes to have a hearing on his bill next week.

Sikeston Mayor Mike Moll distributed copies of newspaper articles about the problems faced in his city of 18,000 people.

Moll said last spring a meeting was held with representatives of state and federal law enforcement agencies to discuss the problem.

In June the city closed one fire station and used the money to hire six additional police officers, and last October, the city council shifted $350,000 from capital improvement accounts to law enforcement.

Moll said the only way Sikeston will have enough money to hire additional officers and deal with the problem is by finding another revenue source the sales tax would provide.

If a half-cent sales tax was imposed, it would generate about $900,000 a year, Moll said.

Sam Harbin, executive director of the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce, testified for the bill. He noted that chamber members believe the top concern of people wanting to locate in Sikeston is a safe environment.

Several committee members expressed concern about raising the sales tax further, but Moll said it was the fairest approach because people from outside the city who will benefit from the services will pay a share.

Sikeston's current sales tax rate is 6.225 percent.

Also testifying in support of the bill was Gary Markenson, executive director of the Missouri Municipal League, and Mike Daniels, a lobbyist for the city of St. Louis.

Daniels said the sales tax option would allow cities to "address specific and unique crime problems."

Daniels said the city of St. Louis would give serious consideration to using a sales tax. About one-third of its $900 million general budget is already used for law enforcement and more funds are needed, he said.

Sikeston City Council Member Alan Keenan and City Manager Steve Borgsmiller also attended the hearing.

The committee likely will decide next week whether to send Kinder's bills to the full Senate for consideration.

Heckemeyer said he is concerned about the need for more law enforcement funding in Sikeston and Scott County.