BARTMAN BACKS TAX VOTE

Missouri's education commissioner endorsed the tax hike proposal for Cape Girardeau Public Schools Friday, noting that there's "a direct relationship between quality of education and economic prosperity."

"If the facilities are modern and kept up, it's clear the community cares about the educational programs," Commissioner Robert Bartman told a crowd of about 130 people at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee, held at the Drury Lodge.

Bartman also spoke at a press conference there, attended by school officials and members of the Board of Education.

The education commissioner said it's important for this district to upgrade its facilities.

"Facilities in Cape Girardeau are generally older than some in like districts in the state," he said.

Tuesday's vote, he said, offers an opportunity "to reinvest in the quality of life" in Cape Girardeau.

"I am really delighted they are moving forward on this building program," said Bartman, who favors the middle school concept as a transition between the elementary and high school grades.

Voters are being asked to approve a 51-cent hike in the tax levy. The money generated would fund the construction of a middle school for grades 6, 7 and 8, and an addition to Jefferson Elementary increasing the potential enrollment from 250 to 500 students.

The project would cost nearly $18.5 million and would be funded through a lease-purchase arrangement.

Bartman said approval of the ballot issue would trigger a "partnership with the state" in the funding of the school district's capital improvements project.

The tax hike would generate an additional $1.3 million annually for the school district, which would be used to pay off the costs of construction.

It would also result in an additional $900,000 in state money for Cape Girardeau Public Schools as a result of the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993, which increased state funding for Missouri's school districts.

Under the law, about half of the money could be used for operation of the physical plant. The other half would go to instructional staff.

The tax hike measure on Tuesday's ballot has no sunset clause.

School officials said the tax hike would amount to an additional $1.09 a week or $58 a year for a property owner with a house valued at $58,300 the median price of a home in Cape Girardeau.

John Campbell, president of the Cape Girardeau Board of Education, said the board's optimistic that voters will approve the tax measure.

Voters in April turned down a 99-cent increase that would have financed construction of a middle school, an elementary school, an addition to Jefferson School and other improvements.

The school board has brought back to voters about half that package. The proposed middle school would be constructed north of the Sprigg and Bertling intersection.

"The comments, I heard, were that we asked for too much," Campbell said.

He said the school district has aging facilities. School officials hope Bartman's endorsement will aid in passage of the ballot measure, Campbell said.

In addition, improved facilities would aid in recruitment of business and industry. Currently, the condition of the school buildings puts Cape at a "competitive disadvantage" in industrial recruitment, he said.