County sales tax

The decision by the Cape Girardeau County Commission to ask voters in the August primary to approve a half-cent sales-tax increase leaves barely two months to persuade taxpayers that the extra revenue is needed and that it will be put to good use.

The commission proposes to use the revenue for roads and to upgrade the sheriff's department. The commission also says the extra sales tax would generate enough revenue (almost $6 million a year, based on the county's current half-cent sales tax) to fully fund the county's road and bridge fund and the Cape Girardeau Special Road District, both of which currently raise funding through property taxes. Those property taxes would be eliminated.

And revenue from the additional county sales tax would be used to refund money to Jackson and other incorporated areas entitled to share some road and bridge funds as the result of a court case won by Jackson a couple of years ago.

Other than this broad framework of how to spend the extra revenue, there are few specifics. At least two of the three commissioners would like to develop a list of road projects, mostly paving, that would benefit from the revenue increase. Sheriff John Jordan has developed a list of needs in his department, including additional officers and equipment.

Still, the public has had little opportunity to consider the details and ramifications of adding the half-cent county sales tax. In recent memory, tax increases proposed by cities and school districts have received considerable public input during the process leading up to a decision to place those issues on the ballot. In this case, the public became aware of the county's plan to increase the sale tax only days before the commission voted to place the issue on the August ballot.

Cities and school districts seeking tax increases have generally relied on dozens of presentations -- scheduled well in advance -- to community organizations to make their case. So far, the county hasn't developed a plan for such presentations.

This leaves a lot to be accomplished between now and August if voters are to be convinced that an additional sales tax is needed and will be spent on what voters regard as their highest priorities. Uninformed voters are likely to vote no. That's something the county commission needs to address.