TRANSPORTATION TAX MIGHT YET BE ON BALLOT

A transportation tax could still appear on the August ballot, say the three Cape Girardeau councilmen who voted against it Monday night.

But Mayor Al Spradling III and councilmen Tom Neumeyer and Melvin Kasten said Tuesday that the 3-3 vote has effectively killed the issue this year.

"I don't see much hope for any of it," Kasten said.

Some business leaders, however, disagree.

"I think we have an opportunity to put together what the public wants," businessman and Planning and Zoning Commission member Harry Rediger said.

Rediger and other businessmen such as Bob Neff and Chamber of Commerce Chairman Jim Rust had called for public input in deciding what road and bridge projects would be funded with a sales tax.

Spradling criticized councilmen Richard Eggimann, Melvin Gateley and Jack Rickard for voting against the tax election ordinance after supporting it two weeks ago.

"We got our flank attacked without any warning," the mayor said. "I think this was sneaky."

But Eggimann and Gateley said they voted against the tax proposal Feb. 6 and they mistakenly voted for it two weeks ago.

They said the council should first look at reallocating city funds before considering any tax measure to finance road and bridge improvements.

They also said the public should be involved in the whole process instead of only at the ballot box.

Gateley wants Vision 2000, a citizens group of which he is a leading member, to hold public hearings to determine what projects need to be funded.

The council had voiced support for such hearings prior to Monday's tie vote.

But Kasten said he sees no reason to hold the hearings because the tax issue isn't on the ballot.

"Unless you have something to begin with, you are just shooting in the dark," he said.

Rickard voted against placing a half-cent, seven-year sales tax issue on the ballot because he felt it was too high. The tax would have generated an estimated $24.3 million for transportation projects.

Rickard said he probably would have backed a quarter-cent sales tax for three years.

"If we are going to have a vote on it, let's try to get something we can at least carry," he said.

Neumeyer said Monday's vote created hard feelings among council members and was a "slap in the face of the mayor."

Spradling had lobbied hard for the tax measure.

The council voted 6-0 two weeks ago to place the half-cent tax on the ballot. Councilman J.J. Williamson was absent.

The council deadlocked Monday night because Williamson was again absent, this time due to the death of his mother.

Williamson said Tuesday he likely would have supported the election ordinance had he been at the meeting.

Williamson said he was disappointed by the vote and would have preferred the council had tabled the issue to give him a chance to vote on it.

But Spradling said a 4-3 vote to put a half-cent, seven-year tax on the ballot would have done little to sell voters on the merits of such a tax.

"If the council can't get behind it and support this issue, then there is no reason to ask the public to support it," he said.

None of the councilmen voiced a concern about the transportation tax measure at the study session prior to the regular meeting.

Spradling said Eggimann, Gateley and Rickard simply oppose the tax and are afraid voters might pass it.

The three councilmen argue otherwise. They said many voters oppose a seven-year tax and they deny there was any collusion on their part.

Spradling said Eggimann has routinely criticized Cape's city government.

"If you listen to the general rhetoric of Eggimann, he is anti-government every time you turn around," Spradling said.

The 'no' votes

Richard Eggiman said the council should first consider reallocating city funds before considering new taxes for road and bridge improvements.

Melvin Gately wants Vision 2000 to hold public hearing to determine what projects need to be funded.

Jack Rickard thought the half-cent, seven-year sales tax issue, which would generate an estimated $24.3 million, was too high. He said he likely would support a quarter-cent sales tax for three years.