Yes on TTF-4

Cape Girardeau voters will be asked Tuesday to extend the city's half-percent sales tax for streets. The tax was first approved in 1995 with a five-year sunset provision. Voters have shown strong support for the tax by renewing it in 2000 and 2005.

The tax raises about $20 million over each five-year period. This revenue goes into a special account called the Transportation Trust Fund. It can only be used for street projects.

Over the 15 years since it began, the tax has paid for $60 million of improvements. Each five-year plan has included a list of priority projects. Renewing the tax would pay for projects like Bloomfield Road, upgrades to the Broadway-Henderson Avenue intersection, Broadway improvements from Pacific to Water streets and Veterans Memorial Drive. The trust fund also includes funding for street and maintenance and sidewalks.

The Transportation Trust Fund has made a huge difference in Cape Girardeau's infrastructure. Without this fund, street projects would have to be funded from general revenue. This would mean far fewer projects and less money for the city's other operations.

The Transportation Trust Fund has proved to be an excellent way for the city to complete crucial pay-as-you-go projects. It deserves another five-year extension.