Survey to ask Cape voters why they said no to taxes

The Cape Girardeau City Council wants voters to explain why they voted against four tax and fee issues that were soundly defeated in the April 8 election.

At the urging of Mayor Jay Knudtson, the council Monday night instructed the city staff to survey city residents. City officials said the survey will be mailed to residents as a flier accompanying monthly sewer, water and trash bills.

"This isn't just sour grapes," the mayor said. But he added that he doesn't believe city officials should rely strictly on "Speak Out" comments in the Southeast Missourian to gauge the reasons why voters said no.

While many voters simply didn't want any tax increase, Knudtson said, there are other reasons specific to the tax package that caused voters to oppose it and a survey could reveal those reasons.

Councilman Matt Hopkins agreed the city needs to learn from the April 8 tax vote. "I think we really need to look at why it failed," he said.

Hopkins said the city council may ultimately have to go back to voters with a new tax package.

Knudtson said he hopes some residents will be willing to give their names so that the council could then meet with those individuals for a roundtable discussion.

"I'm not talking about arguing with the citizens," the mayor said, adding that he was interested only in finding out specifically why voters rejected the tax package that was put together with the help of a resident task force.

Voters rejected a quarter-cent sales tax, a local-use tax, a monthly storm-water fee and replacement of a 10-cent property tax.

The four issues would have provided an estimated $4.1 million a year in added revenue for operating expenses, replacement of equipment, construction of drainage improvements, a new fire station and a water park, as well as expansion of the police station.

Voters rejected all four issues in 14 of the 16 city precincts. The sales tax, which would have provided funding for the fire department, passed in two precincts.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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