CAPE RESIDENTS HAVE HAD AMPLE INPUT ON STREETS

After nearly a dozen neighborhood meetings, Vision 2000 has heard plenty of ideas about transportation needs in Cape Girardeau. The group, which promotes community improvement, first held meetings about specific needs and then held more hearings about how to pay for the improvements. All of this came on the heels of an attempt earlier this year to put a sales tax on the ballot, with revenue to be earmarked for street projects. Putting a transportation sales tax on the ballot failed on a tie vote by the city council.

One of the reasons some council members voted against the sales tax idea was because there was a perception that voters hadn't been informed enough about the issue, the needs or the spending priorities.

But over the past few weeks, the Vision 2000 hearings have provided city residents an opportunity to have their say. Not all of the hearings were well attended. It is hard to say whether the turnout in some cases was due to lack of interest or due to the fact that so many hearings were being held. The second group of hearings, on how to pay for transportation improvements, particularly had low attendance. Those who attended this set of meetings were still mostly interested in talking about needed projects.

Financing is the litmus test of any government spending plan. Taxpayers find it fairly easy to say what they want, but it is much more difficult to say how it should be paid for. Generally, most Cape Girardeau taxpayers have grown accustomed to the idea of using a sales tax set aside specifically for transportation. The remaining questions are how much of a sales tax and for how long.

When the city council takes up the issue again, it will have plenty of ideas to consider. In addition to the Vision 2000 hearings, the Planning and Zoning Commission has a priority list of street improvements, and the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce has yet another list of needed projects.

Vision 2000's final recommendations will come after a town hall meeting set for 7 p.m. next Monday at the former Port Cape West restaurant at West Park Mall. At that meeting, the group will announce its street priorities based on the neighborhood meetings.

The lengthy process to gather information hasn't produced any real surprises. Cape Girardeau residents want good streets, paved instead of gravel, that get them where they want to go as quickly and conveniently as possible. One theme that popped up at some of the hearings was the need for better public transportation. Currently the city offers a voucher system for taxis to residents who prefer not to drive or to walk. This may need to be taken up as a separate topic, but it should get serious consideration from the city council.

By June, the city council should be in a position to reconsider the idea of putting a sales tax on the ballot to be used for transportation projects. The involvement of Vision 2000, the chamber and the Planning and Zoning Commission has laid a good foundation for getting the sales tax passed.