Money questions pepper meeting about county facility proposals

Cape Girardeau County officials hosted their second public meeting to discuss and answer questions -- many of them about money -- on the future of county facilities Thursday night in Jackson.

People filled a small room in the back of the Riverside Regional Library and posed questions that primarily focused on budgets and funding.

A nine-person citizen advisory board formed to consider three options for county facilities, as laid out by Treanor Architects, has expressed support for Option C. The group's formal recommendation will not be delivered to commissioners until Monday.

The favored option calls for building a two-level parking garage with 88 spaces on each level, next to a new courthouse that would be at the corner of North Missouri and Washington streets. All court operations would take place in the new building, which also would house county offices.

The historic courthouse in Jackson would be renovated and filled with the offices of county assessor and public defender, as well as drug court. The current administration building would be demolished, and the county would no longer need to use Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau.

Many pointed out the county had been operating in these facilities -- and operating two courthouses -- for many years and questioned why a change was necessary. Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy said the process began when commissioners decided to "take inventory" of its facilities and evaluate where the county stood.

"We decided ... let's see what our costs are and see how we might be able to save some money," he said.

The citizen advisory board also took inventory, touring county facilities and speaking with officeholders. At Tuesday night's meeting, county officials identified safety and access for people with disabilities -- compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act -- as two of the biggest problems they face, especially in the Common Pleas Courthouse. Its restrooms include only two stalls, and there is no elevator to access the upper floors. Circuit Court Clerk Patti Wibbenmeyer said the courts typically try to serve those with disabilities at the Jackson courthouse, but it's not always possible.

Maintaining Common Pleas, which is more than 150 years old, also comes with its expenses, said the commissioners. The utility bill alone is about $50,000 annually.

Tracy said the county was trying to look at facility updates and replacements "from our pocketbook" rather than emotions. The total cost of Option C as laid out by the architects is about $44 million, but the county does not plan to pursue included projects such as a $9 million jail addition or $3 million juvenile department, at this time. Tracy said the "bare bones" plan the county hopes to work with is closer to the $25 million range.

But finding funds is the "multimillion dollar question," Tracy said. The three options available to the county are a property tax, sales tax or use tax. County commissioners are holding a public hearing at 9 a.m. Tuesday to discuss possibly putting a use tax question on the April ballot.

A use tax can be levied on out-of-state purchases of titled vehicles, including automobiles, boats and other recreational vehicles, along with purchases of other "tangible personal property" as defined by state law. Consumers are required to file a use-tax return with the Missouri Department of Revenue only if their untaxed purchases from out-of-state vendors in a calendar year equal more than $2,000.

Since the county is looking at a bonding issue, officials said they would have to see how much revenue the use tax collected in the first year or two before they could determine the amount of money available to spend on the project. County officials said it's difficult to say exactly how much money the tax would generate annually, but are estimating about $1 million.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Jackson, Mo.