Chaffee voters face two tax measures April 5

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Chaffee city officials are hoping for a "yes" vote from residents April 5 to increase the sales tax.

On the ballot are two questions asking residents to approve or vote down a half-cent tax increase for storm-water and park improvements and a quarter-cent increase for Chaffee Fire Department operations. Chaffee residents currently pay a sales tax of 6.725 percent. Residents in Scott City pay a sales tax of 6.975 percent.

Steve Loucks, acting Chaffee mayor, said they may have been "gluttons for punishment" placing two issues on the ballot, but he hopes residents will understand the need for additional funding.

"We're at the limitations of our budget at this point," he said. "One could be passed without the other and we could continue on, but nothing new could be done."

When Chaffee city administrator Gary Haynes thinks about better storm-water control, he knows the city's main expense would be buying new culverts. The costs of those culverts doesn't match up with the funding the city has available, he says.

"We're trying to improve things for the community, but the resources are limited, so that's where the taxes are necessary," Haynes said.

Loucks agrees, saying the biggest problem area in the city is in the northwest corner of town in neighborhoods near West Dame Avenue and Clarman Drive.

"It doesn't drain well," he said. "We're trying to assess the situation, but there again the funding, the man-hours, the money, the equipment, it's not always there."

Storm-water drains are also a concern along Chaffee's alleyways where neglected ditches have filled in, leaving water with no place to go.

"Improving storm-water drainage will help eliminate storm-water drainage getting into the sewer system, which causes us an extra expense in operating our sewer system," Loucks said.

While there's already some tax revenue for city parks that comes in through property taxes, Haynes said it's not enough to maintain Chaffee's four recreational areas. Parks department staff members have told him, he said, that some of the facilities need basic upkeep. For example, Harmon Park, used by often by Chaffee High School sports teams, needs better lighting on its tennis courts, he said.

"We're in definite need of upgrades," Haynes said. "This tax, again, allows the general fund more flexibility."

Annually, the half-cent increase could generate up to $90,000 for storm-water control and park improvements. Any improvements are normally taken out of the city's general operating budget. In 2010, sales tax revenue totaled around $175,000.

Fire tax

Fire chief Sam Glency knows it's important to keep the Chaffee community safe, but his volunteer crew of 20 has to be safe, too.

It's hard to be as safe as possible in tattered turnout gear, he said Tuesday. With a budget that's consistently being diminished and an annual firetruck payment that still needs to be paid for a few years, buying new gear at about $1,800 a set is out of the question.

"In the fire service you have to keep up with the gear. Everything changes quickly, and everything's expensive," Glency said.

Add building expenditures, insurance, equipment maintenance and other miscellaneous items, and the $60,000 requested to operate this year will be spent in full.

"The problem is our tax revenue in the city is not like it should be. It's just not there anymore, and the fire department doesn't have an actual set-aside fund," Glency said. "Our trucks are in good shape. ... Our actual working tools, turnout gear and a few things like that we're a little behind on."

The quarter-cent sales tax increase could generate around $40,000 annually, according to Haynes.

With newer equipment and other improvements, Loucks said, the crew's fire-suppression rating could improve, ultimately creating a lower insurance rate for homeowners. The department's current Insurance Services Organization rating is a seven -- too high, according to Glency.

"I'll take anything lower than a seven," he said. "This tax would generally help us get that equipment and in the long term save everybody money."

If Chaffee residents approve the measures, the sales tax increase would take effect July 1.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

222 W. Yoakum St., Chaffee, MO