Springfield Chamber: Chamber backs Proposition B tax increases

On Aug. 6, voters will have a chance to promote economic development and increase road safety in Missouri.

Revenue for Missouri transportation improvements would be generated from a half-cent increase in the state's sales tax and a 4-cent boost in Missouri's motor fuel tax.

The Springfield area will most definitely gain from the passing of this ballot measure, as safer and more efficient transportation will draw more businesses to our area. Springfield's location in the center of the country gives area companies an advantage over others that are not centrally located.

Our road systems around southwest Missouri and the Springfield area are key to attracting businesses that depend on easy and timely transport of goods to locations across the United States.

We will jeopardize this advantage if we do not make this move to improve Missouri's roads and bridges.

Revenue created by the passing of Proposition B will directly benefit the Springfield area by improving the interchange at Interstate 44 and Highway 65. West Bypass will be widened to five lanes from Chestnut Expressway to Kearney Street. The interchange at Glenstone Avenue and James River Freeway will be modified, and improvements will be made to the Highway 37/60 corridor from Republic to the Arkansas state line.

Area residents will also benefit from the completion of four-lane connections from Springfield to Kansas City; Springfield to Illinois via U.S. 60; Springfield to Arkansas via U.S. 65; and Springfield to Jefferson City via I-44, Highway 5 and Highway 54. These improvements increase our region's connectivity and help businesses view the Springfield area as a viable location. Our region must be connected to the rest of the nation in order to prosper economically.

The Missouri Department of Transpor-tation projects that the city of Springfield's share of highway user revenues from Proposition B will be $1,099,600 annually, and Greene County's share will be $735,100. These funds will compliment the existing partnership between Springfield and MoDOT a partnership that is considered a model of best practice around the rest of the state.

In addition, each dollar we are able to spend for preventive road maintenance saves $6 in road rehabilitation and reconstruction. And each $100 million spent on transportation construction creates nearly 4,500 full-time jobs.

During the 10-year period Prop B will create 7,260 new jobs and $404 million in new personal income each year. It is not a measure to make government larger, but to create jobs as the monies are returned to business and industry and put back into the economy.

For all of these positive effects of pass-ing Proposition B, the cost to a typical Missouri family is minute. The half-cent sales tax increase will cost the typical four-person family around $7.40 a month, while the 4-cent increase in the fuel tax will cost the average driver about $30 a year. These additional expenditures are low relative to the benefits of saving lives and promoting economic prosperity.

Right now, Missouri ranks 43rd nationally in state taxes paid as a percent of personal income 5.8 percent. Missouri's state sales tax is lowest among its neighbors, and our fuel tax is third lowest.

And though we do pay much less than most states in the nation, the tremendous growth in transportation that Missouri has experienced in recent years warrants an increase.

In the last 25 years, traffic on Missouri highways doubled, while the size of the system remained nearly the same. Congestion delays cost Missourians $400 million a year.

It is time for Missourians to put away old transportation grievances and think about the future of our highway system. We must invest now to promote future economic development and safety for our state, community and families.