SPRADLING ALTERS VIEW ON GOLF FEE

Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III has changed his mind on the golf and recreation fee hikes.

On Monday, he will ask city council to scale back the fee hikes to bring them in line with the city's 5 percent annual cap on tax and fee increases.

Originally, golf and recreation fees were set to increase by as much as 8 percent in the city budget.

The council passed a resolution last July establishing a 5 percent cap on annual increases of fees and taxes without voter approval.

Spradling said Friday council must act to restore public trust in city hall.

"I just don't want the people to feel we are trying to do something behind their backs," he said.

The move marks an about-face for the mayor, who earlier argued council shouldn't be held to such a cap.

Spradling, and all but one councilman, voted earlier this month to allow golf and recreation fee increases of up to 8 percent.

This would have violated the council's July resolution.

Spradling had maintained the cap applied only to citywide fees and taxes, such as trash, sewer and water.

The council's action prompted public criticism, even from members of the city's Planning and Zoning Commission.

Commissioners worried that it would make it even more difficult to pass a proposed transportation sales tax in August.

Two councilmen, including one who voted to raise golf and recreation fees above the cap, want to amend the city charter to keep fee and tax hikes in check.

"There has been enough uproar," Spradling said.

Councilman Tom Neumeyer agreed, saying: "We need to bury the hatchet."

The difference between a 5 percent and an 8 percent hike in golf and recreational fees is minimal, he said. For example, the difference amounts to only 15 cents for greens fees.

"It is not worth 15 cents to have all this turmoil," Neumeyer said.

Planning and Zoning Chairman Harry Rediger welcomed the news.

He said he hopes the council will abide by the cap.

Rediger said it would aid efforts to pass a transportation tax.

"We are going to have negatives out there on additional taxes anyway," Rediger said. "We really don't need any more negatives."