COUNTY COMMISSION SAYS IT IS IN WAIT-AND-SEE POSITION

Cape Girardeau County commissioners say the River Campus project proposed by Southeast Missouri State University is a great idea, but the county hasn't been asked to participate in funding of the project.

The university hopes to build a $35.6 million campus with a performing arts center. University officials have suggested a countywide sales tax could be one way to raise local money for the project.

"Are we going to do that? I don't know," said Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones. "It could be a very volatile issue."

Jones said a performing arts center would be a tremendous addition for recruiting new companies and workers to the county.

"We must be concerned with doing everything we can to improve the quality of life of present and future citizens," Jones said. "A performing arts center would go a long, long way to providing cultural-type activities for the entire family."

First District Commissioner Larry Bock said, "It would be an investment in the community." But Bock said the university needs to show exactly what the costs would be, the need and what it would do with the money.

Last month university vice president Dr. Ken Dobbins asked Jones if the university could levy a sales tax. The answer is no.

In a handwritten note to Dobbins, Jones explained that a sales tax must be placed on the ballot by a taxing entity such as a county, a city or the state. Any tax would have to be approved by voters.

"He wanted to know the rules," Jones said. "All I did was tell him the rules."

The commissioners attended a reception last month with university president Dr. Dale Nitzschke about the River Campus, but the university hasn't asked the county to consider any proposals. The county hasn't promised anything either, said Jones.

Jones said the county couldn't ask for tax money to fund a university project. "There are lots of questions, especially about ownership," Jones said. "I think the university would have to deed over the property in full or in part to the county or city for the duration of the tax."