Trusting in TTF

A month before Cape Girardeau voters approved a half-cent transportation sales tax in 1995, the city council established a transportation trust fund to ensure that all the tax money would be spent on transportation projects.

The trust fund, along with a priority list of projects and a five-year sunset provision, secured strong backing for the tax-and-build plan. In 2000, the city's voters again strongly supported another five-year package. Roads and bridges consumed most of the priority projects. In August, voters will be asked to extend the tax another five years, generating an estimated $20.3 million for road projects.

While the city is sorting out new projects, an old need has gotten new attention. The United Way and the Community Caring Council recently asked the city council to consider earmarking part of the TTF3 plan for a fixed-route bus system.

In response, city leaders have said they don't want to mess around with a good thing. Voters approved the first TTF a decade ago because they wanted to see improvements in the city's roads. The funds were well spent. The results were obvious. Voters extended the tax five years ago because the TTF had a good track record. The program has been successful because of the trust in the TTF.