Road bonds

In 2007, the first year of its paving program after approval last year of an additional half-cent sales tax, Cape Girardeau County officials have set a target of paving 8.9 miles of roads. The county has approximately 400 miles of roads, of which 100 are already paved. At the rate of nine miles of paving a year, it would take more than 30 years to pave every county road.

While the county would likely speed up that pace in some years, many rural residents would, under the current schedule, have to wait quite a while for dust abatement or paving. County Commissioner Jay Purcell suggested last week to the county's road and bridge advisory board that it give some thought to using some of the revenue from last year's sale-tax increase for revenue bonds that could speed up the county's road projects.

Members of the advisory committee appear to be generally receptive to looking further into using bonds. To be determined are such things as how much bonding the county can afford with the available revenue stream, and whether or not bonds make good sense financially.

Purcell pointed out that he was told at a Jefferson City meeting that the inflation in road-construction costs is from 8 to 11 percent a year, while interest on bonds might be as low as 4 percent.

The advisory board is closer to making final recommendations to the county commission on paving projects. It looks like a suggestion regarding the bonds would also be welcome.