By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph voters will decide Tuesday if the Capital Improvement Program should be extended.
The half-cent sales tax must be renewed every five years. Every election the program has won significant voter approval.
St. Joseph City spokeswoman Mary Robertson says what works in favor of the program is that there is something in the CIP for everyone.
"Well, they're going to get streets and infrastructure, they're going to get public safety, they're going to get recreational amenities, they're going to get opportunities for economic development, so there's something for everyone," Robertson tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. "Whether in their neighborhood or in their community collectively, there's something for everyone."
Robertson says what also works in favor of the tax is that it sunsets every five years.
CIP Committee chair Steve McCamy says the program is successful because residents can visibly see what the tax funds.
"You can see the new firehouses around the community that have happened because of this tax over the years, so I think the real key for us is what we said we're going to do, with the tax and with the money, we've done it," McCamy says.
McCamy says what’s unique is that most of the money in the program doesn't come from residents, but from visitors to St. Joseph
"This is a sales tax, I think it's 42-43% of the money comes from outside of St. Joseph, people who come and use our streets, our restaurants, our hotels, and things like that, help us with this tax and help us improve our community," McCamy explains.
Robertson says projects in the CIP can be like pieces of a puzzle.
"Revenue will not come in all at once, so city staff will look at all of the projects and we'll take those pieces and we'll fit them into the puzzle," Robertson points out. "For example, building the new fire station, that's not going to be able to happen right away, but we can do some design work, some preliminary work leading up to that."
A committee chooses the projects which must be approved by the city council.
Voters on Tuesday will also decide if a three percent tax on recreational marijuana sales should be enacted in Buchanan County.