WATER BILLS

Proposal

Cape Girardeau voters will decide two related issues on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. First, they will decide whether the city should issue $26.5 million in water system improvement bonds. Second, they will decide whether to approve a 20-year, quarter-cent sales tax to pay the debt service on the bonds.

If they approve the bonds and not the sales tax, the debt service will have to be paid some other way. The alternative option currently being discussed is a 59 percent water rate increase.

Current sales tax breakdown

If a quarter-cent sales tax passes to pay the bond debt service, it will be the last the city legally can impose. However, most city leaders feel a sales tax is the best option because everyone who shops in Cape Girardeau, not just water customers, will pay for water system improvements.