Water park made central issue in Cape budget talks

A family aquatic center could be the sink-or-swim proposition in a plan to boost Cape Girardeau's flagging city budget.

City council members say they know it would attract families, and more sales-tax dollars, to the city. Some of those families currently drive 90 miles to use Farmington's water slide and wave pool.

But they're also aware voters may frown upon the idea of throwing a nonessential project into a mix of must-haves -- such as funding for operating costs, equipment, a new fire station and a police station remodeling -- when the city has spent more money than it has earned the last three years.

After 90 minutes of discussion with members of the council-appointed Citizens Finance Task Force Tuesday night, some council members said they are ready to try to sell the public on a $6.5 million center with a 800-foot-long lazy river, interactive family play pool, a sand play area, waterfalls, waterslides and lily pad walks. It could be on the ballot as soon as April.

About $4 million per year would be generated by tax increases to fund the $6.5 million aquatic center, a new, $1.8 million fire station, a $5 million police station renovation and a long list of equipment and operating costs that city government leaders say are urgent needs. The buildings and aquatic center would be paid for over 20 years.

If the council does indeed put the aquatic center on the ballot, Mayor Jay Knudtson said the city will have to take a new approach.

"The city has urgent needs, that's what we've preached," Knudtson said. "Now, we've got to look at this thing on how we build on the future. As for myself, I feel the aquatic center will be included."

City leaders insist a tax increase is necessary or services will be cut. The city has seen sales-tax increases fall short of the rate of inflation in the last three years, forcing the city to dip into reserve funds.

The council created the Citizens Finance Task Force, which began meeting in July, to look into the city's financial situation and come up with possible solutions.

The task force recommended that four taxes be put on a ballot, knowing each will have to be voted on separately. They include a quarter-cent sales tax increase, a new local use tax that would tax out-of-state purchases of $2,000 or more, a 10 cent property tax extension and a stormwater utility fee that would cost the average household roughly $2 to $3.50 extra a month.

White's flag

Hugh White was the only council representative to voice opposition to the four-tax approach.

"I can't help but think we're making this more difficult than it needs to be," White said. "Four votes -- I'm just uncomfortable with that."

As for the aquatic center, White is uncertain about that too.

"In the circles I run, I get the sense that people are saying that we need this and we need that and, by the way, let's throw in an aquatic center," White said.

However, councilman Jay Purcell said he is very passionate about an aquatic center and believes that the idea might be popular enough to carry the rest of the package.

Farmington Mayor Kevin Engler said the Farmington aquatic center cost $3.5 million and took one year to construct. He said 60,000 to 70,000 people visit the center every year and the facility makes $90,000 annually. The construction of the facility, however, is being paid for with a half-cent sales tax.

When asked if he thought the sales tax that was generated by the visitors made up for the debt service, Engler said, "Without a doubt."

The center includes a family pool, two giant water slides, a 500-foot lazy river and concession stands.

Parks and recreation director Dan Muser says Capaha Pool is in terrible shape and is about to reach the point where it will be beyond repair.

There was also some discussion on when to put the package to a vote. The council unofficially eliminated the idea of a February ballot Tuesday night. The next opportunity to make the taxes into election questions would be in April or August balloting.

bmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127