Citizens are starting to notice a familiar sign that the City’s ¼-cent capital improvement sales tax is up for renewal. Signs reading “Completed as Promised,” “Coming Soon” and “Proposed” are educating the public about the role the tax plays in funding road, bridge, stormwater and sidewalk improvement projects city-wide.
On April 2, Springfield voters will be asked to decide whether or not to renew the 30-year-old tax. The ballot proposal is a continuation with no additional cost to taxpayers.
In place since 1989, this tax has generated nearly $250 million to help maintain and improve Springfield’s transportation and stormwater infrastructure systems. When possible, funding is leveraged with other partners, including county, state, federal governments and developers.
Recent projects include the widening of Republic Road and intersection improvements throughout the city. Proposed projects include additional sidewalks, roadway improvements and intersection upgrades. For a complete list, visit Springfieldmo.gov/election.
In October 2018, Springfield City Council evaluated the possibility of a longer-term cycle option for the ¼-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax. They indicated support for maintaining a sunset of the tax, but extending it to 20 years.
“A longer term would change the way the city is able to use these funds,” explains Public Works Director Dan Smith. “The City currently splits up project phases – design and construction. We do this because, especially with larger and more complicated projects, we can’t fully commit to completing all phases of a project during the current three-year cycle.”
To maintain 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 20-year term.
The City’s continuous long-term Capital Improvement Project planning and Citizen Tax Oversight Committee processes will also continue to guide accountability.
For more information, visit springfieldmo.gov/election.
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For more information, please contact Director of Public Information and Civic Engagement Cora Scott at [email protected] or 417-380-3352.