Supporters: Approval of tax will help Sikeston move forward

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Realizing the impact of the 1-cent sales tax on Sikeston's budget just takes a quick look at the numbers. And keeping that revenue source in place just takes a quick trip to the voting booth, according to its supporters.

"It is really important that people go to the polls and vote -- not just support it, but get out and vote for it. We want to keep going forward, not backward. There are a lot of exciting things happening in our community," said Sally Lape, a member of a group rallying support for the continuation of the tax. "I'm just a concerned citizen who volunteered to help people find out more about the 1-cent sales tax and the importance that it continues. It is very important that people understand this is not a tax increase: this is strictly a continuation of the 1-cent sales tax that was implemented in 2004."

Approved by voters with a sunset clause so it would end after 10 years unless renewed by voters, the sales tax as promised has bolstered the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, provided operating funds for the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority and funded the construction of the Sikeston Area Higher Education Center, renamed in recent years as the Southeast Missouri State University-Sikeston.

"But it is also important for people to know it generates approximately $2.9 million per year," Lape said. "That actually is one-third of the general fund's revenue for the city. Obviously, that is very important for us to continue to have that money in the general fund so our city can continue to improve in a variety of ways."

And is Sikeston better off than it was 10 years ago?

"We've seen an improvement in our Department of Public Safety -- they have maintained a highly qualified staff and provided the city with the right equipment and technology to deter criminal activity as well as warn us against impending dangers," Lape said. "As far as the LCRA, over the past 10 years we have seen dilapidated buildings removed in blighted areas of our community and I think we all as concerned citizens want see those areas revitalized. It has helped those neighborhoods to feel a rebirth and the people who live in those neighborhoods be proud of their city and revitalize where they live."

Improvements continue to be made, she noted.

"The radio station building next to the new DPS Headquarters is going to be removed soon," Lape said. "That intersection at Malone and South Kingshighway is going to be improved which is exciting because it goes along with the Historic Downtown Sikeston is already doing."

And there is always the future to think about, Lape said.

"We want our city to grow economically, we want to keep our city safe and we want to continue to provide educational opportunities that are really very exciting for our city," Lape said. "Without this 1-cent sales tax, all that would become very difficult. We really, really need to have it continue."