A pair of sales tax bills aimed at infrastructure improvements were introduced last night at the Springfield City Council meeting. The bills call for the city to put its quarter-cent and eighth-cent transportation sales taxes up for a vote during the municipal election, which is scheduled April 5.
The quarter-cent sales tax, which is up for a three-year renewal, was first approved by Springfield voters in 1989. It has been renewed eight times, according to the bills.
The eighth-cent sales tax was first passed in 1996, and the four-year transportation tax has been renewed four times.
Springfield Public Works Director Dan Smith said at last night’s meeting the quarter-cent sales tax generates roughly $10 million per year for public improvements and the eighth-cent tax pulls in about $5 million annually. If renewed, the taxes are estimated to generate $50 million for infrastructure upgrades over their lives.
Revenue from the larger tax would fund high-priority projects, said Smith, such as major street resurfacing and rehabilitation, school sidewalks, and stormwater and neighborhood initiatives.
“It is able to be used for more than just transportation, but a lot of it does go back into the transportation system,” he said.
The eighth-cent tax is designed for such capital projects as intersection improvements and street and bridge widening.
In each of the past three voting cycles, the taxes have been approved by over 70 percent of voters, Smith said.
Jerry Harmison of law firm Harmison & Pearman PC spoke in favor of the bills.
“State and federal transportation funding is in constant jeopardy. And frankly, I think the only way we can ensure that Springfield continues to grow is to take care of our own transportation infrastructure,” Harmison told council. “One of the things that you see with communities that are thriving … is a commitment to infrastructure.”
No one spoke against the taxes.
Projects supported by the quarter-cent tax, should council put it on the April ballot and voters approve a renewal, include intersection improvements at Battlefield Road and Fremont Avenue and on Fremont between Battlefield and Sunset Street. Those upgrades are estimated to cost $5 million. Major street resurfacing would cost $4.6 million and a continuation of improvements to Primrose Street, $2.6 million, also is slated to occur.
New
projects to be funded by the eighth-cent tax would include improvements to West Grand Street between Kansas Expressway and Park Avenue and upgrades to East Cherry Street between Barnes and Oak Grove avenues – together totaling $5.5 million. A continuation of improvements to Republic Road, $4.5 million, also is on the project list.
Council is slated to vote on the bills at its Dec. 14 meeting.
