Cape Girardeau pauses restaurant tax discussions, considers 2028 ballot proposal

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Cape Girardeau Mayor Robbie Guard announced Thursday that the city will pause discussions by its Restaurant Tax Committee while officials gather additional data on tourism, economic activity and the potential effects of changes to the restaurant tax.

Guard said the decision followed discussions with City Council members and community partners and is intended to give the city more time to evaluate its tourism strategy.

The city is considering hiring an independent consultant to analyze Cape Girardeau’s tourism economy, including where visitors come from, how long they stay, how much they spend and the effect tourism has on local businesses and jobs.

The analysis would also examine how existing hotel, motel and restaurant tax revenue is being used, future tourism and infrastructure needs and the potential economic effects of a restaurant tax increase on businesses, residents and visitors.

Guard said the city also plans to seek additional input from restaurant owners, tourism officials, business leaders, community organizations and residents before moving forward with a proposal.

“Restaurant owners need to have a voice in this discussion. So do our residents, our tourism industry and our business community,” Guard said in the announcement.

Guard said April 2028 could be considered as a potential date for putting a restaurant tax proposal before voters, provided the research and community discussions are completed.

The announcement comes as the city also canceled public input meetings on potential tourism fund projects that had been scheduled for Oct. 1 and Oct. 7.

Guard said pausing the committee’s work does not mean the city is abandoning tourism or economic development efforts. He said the additional time is intended to provide more information before officials decide whether to bring a restaurant tax proposal to voters.