People listened to Dr. Danny Lovett, dean of the seminary at Liberty University, while he spoke during the start of the Hope for America crusade Sunday night at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. Jerry Falwell was scheduled to speak, but at the last minute he was unable to attend. By Bob Miller ~ Southeast Missourian

The Cape Girardeau Citizens Finance Task Force, a committee appointed by the city council to delve into the city's financial problems and come up with possible solutions, will present its revised report tonight at the city council study session.

Members say they've found a way to fund city needs. The biggest items recommended by the task force would cost $21.4 million over the next 20 years. They include $4.5 million for equipment purchases, $3.6 million for stormwater projects, $1.8 million for a new fire station, nearly $5 million for an addition to the police station and $6.5 million for an aquatic center.

Here's how they recommend paying for those items:

A 1/4-cent increase in sales tax.

The introduction of a use tax which would create a local sales tax on out-of-state purchases of more than $2,000.

The extension of a 10-cent property tax levy which is currently paying off bonds used to build the Show Me Center.

A stormwater/utility fee yet to be determined, but roughly estimated to cost an average resident $2 to $3.50 more per month.

The task force's original recommendation listed the same needs, but offered different solutions. The original report included a cigarette tax, which was found to be prohibited by the state, and a use-tax estimation that the Missouri Municipal League said was approximately $600,000 too low.

Once the cigarette tax was subtracted and the additional use-tax was added, the task force needed to up the property tax extension from five cents to 10 to make the numbers meet.

"I feel much better and more confident about this report," said Melvin Gateley, co-chairman of the task force. "I think the council will feel better when they see it, too. It's a reasonable report."

Mayor Jay Knudtson said he has not put a timetable on the revenue issues.

"We'll have to sit down and digest it," Knudtson said. "To be honest, the council has had very little discussion on this issue in a while."

Knudtson said whatever revenue package the council puts before voters will also come with efforts to explain the package to those voters.

"This isn't as simple as the council adopting the recommendation and just sticking it on the ballot," he said. "The appetite for any tax increase right now is very small."

bmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127