Q and A with Tom Carlson

As mayor, what are your top three priorities for 2004?

The renewal of the quarter-cent sales tax for capital improvements and the (renewal of the current 27-cent) level property tax in the Feb. 3 election is my top priority. These are crucial elements of the city's program to keep Working as Promised' for the citizens of Springfield. There is no tax increase with either of these proposals.

My second priority is the Mayor's Conference on Education, which will be coming up on Feb. 6, the day after I present the State of the City address at the Chamber's Good Morning Springfield! program. I'm deeply committed to the importance of public education for the overall quality of life in our community and look forward to opening a comprehensive dialogue on the opportunities and challenges facing education and how those relate to the overall vitality of our city.

A third priority would be our neighborhoods, again as a significant quality-of-life issue for our city. We are addressing neighborhood issues in ways ranging from a new category for neighborhood improvements included in the quarter-cent sales tax renewal to the second year of neighborhood assessment workshops to increased enforcement on dangerous and boarded-up buildings to rid neighborhoods of these blighting influences.

What do you expect to happen with city revenues in 2004?

We are forecasting sales tax revenue to grow at a rate of slightly over 3 percent next year. That's based on a positive trend that's occurred over the past several months and expectations that the economy is improving. Fees for services and interest income are expected to stay about the same next year.

What are the biggest challenges facing the city of Springfield in 2004?

Growth and development, youth priorities and transportation needs.

How will those be addressed?

The Vision 20/20 Growth and Development group has been working hard on this issue and has presented its preliminary recommendations, which, along with the other planning groups, will be completed in spring 2004 as a five-year action plan.

I hope to address youth priorities through the Mayor's Conference on Education in February; other efforts like Every Kid Counts are looking at ways to deal with youth issues in a proactive way.

On the third priority of transportation, Springfield has been fortunate to receive federal appropriations for several important projects including the Intelligent Transportation System, and improvements at U.S. 65 and Interstate 44 and U.S. 65 and 60. In addition, we hope to continue improvements on our city streets such as the dual-left turn lanes and several road continuation projects proposed in the quarter-cent sales tax for capital improvements.

What's new in terms of attracting industry/jobs to Springfield?

Springfield is ranked as a top 25 city for job growth, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, because we've experienced an average of 2.3 percent job growth each year over the past decade. The Partnership for Economic Development was strengthened last year with Greene County joining the city, City Utilities, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and the Springfield Business and Development Corporation in promoting the Partnership Industrial Center West. So far, two new manufacturers have located in PIC West bringing 120 new jobs and $8 million in private investment. That makes more than 1,800 new jobs at 21 manufacturing firms that have invested more than $176 million in the two Partnership Industrial Centers.

Economic development work is continuing with the Partnership for Prosperity campaign, which has generated $1.8 million from 94 investors as of mid-November, topping its campaign goal of $1.5 million.

Partnership members are actively supporting the Hawthorn Foundation's efforts to attract business and industry and also are making impact trips to cities ranging from St. Louis to New York.