Outlook: City: Continuation of taxes will aid 20/20 projects

During the 1990s, our community supported a balanced program of city improvements almost $30 million a year. Your money made needed improvements throughout the city north, west, south and east. We have had many positive comments about the increase in street paving, improvements to parks, the addition of new parks and greenways, a new recreation center, and the new and widened roads particularly the double-turn lanes at major intersections.

Much of the money almost 40 percent for these improvements comes from users. From airports to golf courses to the zoo, if you use the facility, you pay for it. Another 30 percent of the money comes from sales tax and 30 percent comes from property taxes. This is an excellent financial balance and these improvements have been made while continuing to be one of the lowest tax areas in our state and region. Springfield voters will be asked to continue these improvements in a Feb. 6 election without increasing taxes.

Once again, we are doing this by continuing the current tax rate there are no tax increases. This has been accomplished via the community-based Vision 20/20 Plan and the six-year Capital Improvement Program Action Plan that is used to implement the Vision 20/20 Plan.

Our promises for 2001 include:

Completion of a two-sheet, indoor, recreational ice project, construction of Jordan Valley Park greenspace, and a new streetscape in the downtown area

School-park improvements

Intersection improvements

Road improvements

A full year operation of the phosphorus removal equipment at the Southwest Treatment Center

Airport improvements.

I predict that our local economy and employment will stay strong even if the national economic situation is slowing down; that Jordan Valley Park will include a new convention center, baseball park, and hockey arena; and that the city and county will keep a sharp focus on maintaining our high quality of life and good economic development, which includes making positive economic development a high priority.

(Tom Finnie is Springfield's city manager.)

1/4-Cent Capital Improvements Program-Proposed Projects, 2001-2004

Streets

Grand Street widening Fort to Grant

Norton Road Summit to National

Walnut Lawn phase II from Main to Parkhill right-of-way/construction

Fremont & Republic Road intersection

Grant Avenue Norton to north city limits

Jefferson Avenue and Sunshine Street intersection

Residential street stabilization

Center city transportation/streetscape program (matched with CDBG funds)

National Avenue design partial right-of-way Kearney to Norton

National Avenue bus turnouts

National and Walnut intersection

National intersections at Primrose, Chestnut Expressway & Grand partial design and right-of-way

Developer/grant matching funds for street improvements

Minor neighborhood improvements

Traffic signals

Metro/safety sign program

Traffic signal annual program

Sidewalks

Sidewalk reconstruction/ramp program

School sidewalk program (citywide)

Parks

Community park and greenway development (Vision 20/20)

Zoo parking lot development phase I

Chesterfield Indoor/Outdoor Aquatics Center design only (Vision 20/20)

Park and greenway land acquisition (Vision 20/20)

Park improvement and city reforestation program (Vision 20/20)

Doling Park master plan (Vision 20/20)

Northview Senior Center replacement

Mobile recreation unit replacement

Nathanael Greene and Close Park matching funds

Fassnight pool renovation

The continuation of the level property tax

Fire protection improvements and station relocation

Continue stormwater improvements

Municipal facility improvements

Implementing Vision 20/20 recommendations