In November 2019, Springfield renewed the 1/8-cent Transportation Sales Tax for the seventh time, this time with a 20-year sunset.
The tax was first approved in 1996 and renewed in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012, 2016 and 2019.
The current 1/8-cent transportation sales tax, is estimated to generate approximately $102 million to fund transportation system improvements such as street resurfacing and rehabilitation, traffic flow, safety and walkability projects.
When possible, funding is leveraged with other partners, including county, state, federal governments and private developers.
Project Selection
Proposed projects are selected through a combination of public input, City department and partner agency assessed need, prior public/partner agency commitment and equitable geographic distribution.
Public input is gathered via a citizen survey. Citizens are asked to identify their top priority projects and offer input to guide investment in programs.
City/agency need is determined by City departments and partner agencies who assess other variables that may impact the project's overall benefit to the community. Total crashes, traffic capacity, infrastructure condition, economic development potential and flooding in the project area are all factors considered.
Maintaining Accountability
Public input and project prioritization processes will continue to be conducted on a regular basis to collect feedback to be used in the selection of future projects and programs over the now 20-year term.
The City's 6-year Capital Improvement Project planning process and Citizen Tax Oversight Committee process will continue to guide accountability.