VOTE FOR SCHOOLS GETS BALL ROLLING FOR STATE MONEY

When Sen. Peter Kinder walked onto the Missouri Senate floor Wednesday morning, Senate appropriations chairman Mike Lybyer already knew the news.

Cape Girardeau voters had said yes to two school tax increases that will fund a number of construction and renovation projects, including a new vocational-technical school.

Kinder said Tuesday's vote also clinched $3.1 million in state funding in the Senate's capital improvement bill.

The fact that Lybyer checked on the election personally proves how important a yes vote was in the budget process, Kinder said.

"He brought it up before I could mention it to him," Kinder said. "The voters really came through. I'm just tremendously pleased. I think Cape is on a roll."

The state funds would pay half the construction costs of the building.

Funding is hitting a few more snags on the house side, but Rep. Mary Kasten said, "We will be working very hard to keep that money in."

If the Senate and House pass different funding bills, lawmakers would have to iron out differences before final passage.

In January, Gov. Mel Carnahan included $3.15 million in his proposed Missouri budget. But the governor's budget is subject to revision by the Legislature.

Kinder and Kasten have been working to maintain full funding through the appropriations process.

The state money would help construct a 90,000-square-foot vocational-technical school to serve the area.

School Board president Bob Fox said: "This was something we knew was possible all along. It was all dependent on whether or not we could pass this. It means more savings for local taxpayers."

If Cape Girardeau gets state money toward construction of the vocational school, voters will see a tax break when the second phase of the district's construction plan comes before voters.

The amount of bonds needed for construction of a proposed high school would be less by an amount equal to the state construction money the district receives.

Fox said planning for implementation has already begun.

"We need to let the architects go ahead and complete drawings so we can approve them," he said. "No bids can be taken until that happens."

The board must select a site for the vocational-high school complex soon. Until a site is chosen, architects can't finish building plans.

"We will probably go ahead with the sale of the bonds toward the middle of the month," Fox said.

Union Electric is conducting an energy study of the proposed construction and renovation, looking for ways to save energy.

"Other savings are possible," Fox said. "Grants are available and energy loans that would pay themselves off."

But Fox said that he was allowing himself a day to enjoy the victory. "I'm still on Cloud Nine," he said. "After going through three that failed, it sure felt good to win."

Voters in several of Cape Girardeau's precincts did a turn-around on Tuesday's issues from the way they had voted on the three past issues.

Cape Girardeau School District includes 19 voting precincts. Tuesday's proposals carried in 16. Half of those yes precincts traditionally said no to school tax increases.

Tuesday's proposal failed in two precincts: Precinct 9 at Church of God and Campster-Pecan Grove Precinct. Voters in those two precincts said no to all three previous funding issues proposed by the school district.

It ended in a tie in Precinct 12 at May Greene, which traditionally had said no to school tax increases.

Precincts with a switch to yes votes this time around: Precinct 1 at Red Star, Precinct 6 at Franklin School, Precinct 7 at A.C. Brase Arena Building, Precinct 8 at City Hall, Precinct 11 at Junior High, Precinct 14 at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Precinct 15 at Lynwood Baptist Church and Precinct 18 at Jefferson School.