Making it work

The 131-vote margin of approval for the half-cent increase in Cape Girardeau County's sales tax in Tuesday election came as quite a surprise, even to the county commission and sheriff who put the plan together and stumped hard for its passage.

To be sure, there were enough carrots in the sales-tax plan to attract the needed simple majority.

Voters had at least three factors to consider in casting their ballots: 1. The need or desire to pave county roads. 2. The need for additional funding for the sheriff's department. 3. The promise that all road-and-bridge property taxes would be eliminated if the extra sales tax passed.

The proposal passed in five precincts in Cape Girardeau and two precincts in Jackson. Burfordville was the only out-county precinct where the measure failed.

It is to be hoped that by the time county merchants start collecting the additional sales tax next year that the specifics of which county roads will be paved -- and how they are chosen -- will be ironed out.

Commissioner Larry Bock was correct when he said it's the responsibility of elected officials, not appointed committee members, to have the final say on whatever paving program the additional sales-tax revenue will produce. Commissioner Jay Purcell seems to think the appointed committee's recommendations should carry the day -- a division in perspective that needs to be resolved before work begins on any roads.