CAPE TO SPEND $74 MILLION ON PROJECTS PLAN

The city of Cape Girardeau plans to spend nearly $74 million on capital projects over the next five fiscal years.

The projects total nearly $15 million more than last year's $59.2 million capital budget.

There are 121 projects in the tentative plan compared to 104 in the 1995 version.

City officials said the latest capital improvements plan reflects the addition of transportation sales tax projects and the proposed expansion of the water system.

The City Council will meet at 6 tonight to review the proposed plan.

Councilman Melvin Gateley said the council could make changes in the plan. The city charter requires the council to annually approve a five-year plan.

The water system expansion depends on voter approval of a bond issue, said Mayor Al Spradling III. The issue could go before the voters in June.

The city's water system is nearing capacity. "We just need to upgrade and expand," said Spradling.

The city wants to spend $5 million to expand and upgrade the Cape Rock Drive water plant.

"Five million is an estimated dollar amount," Spradling said. "I think, frankly, it is going to be more than that. It is not a cheap proposition."

Taxpayers already are footing the bill for road and bridge improvements.

Voters in August approved a half-cent sales tax to fund road and bridge projects over the next five years. The city started collecting the tax Jan. 1.

Half of the 50 transportation projects in the capital plan would be funded with transportation tax money.

The tax will raise about $15.6 million over five years, making it the second largest source of funding for capital projects.

The largest source of funding, $29.4 million, comes from revenue and Public Facility Authority bonds that have already been issued. The city proposes to issue another $10.2 million in bonds.

State grants and loans will generate $7 million for improvements.

Both Spradling and City Manager Michael Miller stressed that the projects in the five-year plan aren't set in stone. That is particularly true of those projects scheduled for three, four and five years from now.

"It is a guide," Miller said. "It isn't an appropriation of funds."