The push for a parks and storm-water tax is being organized this month.

Dan Muser, Cape Girardeau's parks and recreation director, said he is working with members of the city's Parks Foundation. Together they will develop a video and slide presentation and recruit members of the public to campaign.

Voters will decide April 8 whether to approve or reject a half-cent sales tax. Three-eighths of the tax will have a 10-year sunset and be used to improve parks facilities and storm-water abatement. The remaining one-eighth of a cent will be permanent and used for operations costs. In all, the tax is expected to raise $25 million.

Dave Ostlund, executive director for Missouri Park and Recreation Association, said cities have had various levels of success at getting the tax passed. He developed a 250-page booklet to aid campaign organizers.

"The one thing they really need to be is forthright with voters," he said. "One thing we've noticed around the state is that if the voters don't feel comfortable that they understand what the initiative includes, they're not likely to endorse it."

Muser said he is working with the Parks Foundation and Red Letter Communications of Cape Girardeau to develop an information campaign. Red Letter is the same company used to promote the library tax, which passed by a 119-vote margin among 2,379 voters in February's single-issue ballot.

The parks and storm-water tax message will have to be delivered in a grassroots way, Muser said. Plans are underway to form a campaign committee. He said part of the strategy will be to set up presentations to any organization in the city.

"This isn't about me, it isn't about my staff," he said. "It's about what the citizens want for the citizens' sake."

Ostlund said Cape Girardeau has an advantage that other cities had in promoting the sales tax.

"In Poplar Bluff, they estimated 70 percent of their sales tax revenue comes from nonresidents. In Fenton and Shrewsbury, both their promotional literature said something to effect of 'finance our parks with other people's money.'"

Ostlund said a sales tax can be more fair than a property tax, because nonresidents also use parks and recreation facilities.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127