Effort draws attention to tech parks

A grassroots organization, Technology Park 2001, submitted to Springfield City Council in December an initiative petition with more than 2,400 signatures requesting that the city place on the April ballot a quarter-cent sales tax to be used for the development of one or more technology parks.

A technology park is similar in concept to an industrial park but is designed to attract technology-intensive companies and to serve as an incubation center for new companies.

Springfield voters, however, won't be voting on the technology park issue any time soon. Brenda Cirtin, Springfield city clerk, said Steven Reed of Nixa, leader of the campaign, submitted the same petition in March 2000 and was told at that time by the city's law department two reasons why the petition cannot be put to a vote.

"He has submitted it as an initiative petition. Chapter 14.1 of our city charter says that you can do initiative petitions, except for the appropriation of money," Cirtin said. "What this petition is wanting (the city) to do is ... to impose a quarter-cent sales tax exclusively for the tech park."

Cirtin said the city's law department determined that because the petition is asking for money, it's in violation of the city's charter.

The second problem with the petition according to the law department is that there are no state guidelines for putting a technology park tax issue on the ballot.

Cirtin said, "Without specific state authorization, the city cannot impose a dedicated sales tax to promote one or more technology parks."

Cirtin said the city's lawyers have reviewed recent changes in state law, but none have been made that would allow the city to impose a tech park sales tax.