Cape Girardeau mayor speaks about failed tax levy vote

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – It’s a day of regrouping for some communities after Tuesday’s elections. Cape Girardeau County voters were asked to vote on a tax levy that would go toward giving police and firefighters a raise of at least 8 percent.

Voters narrowly said no by a measure of less than 200 votes.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Stacy Kinder shared her thoughts on why she believes voters said no and what happens now when it comes to salaries for our men and women in public safety.

“Certainly there’s disappointment; I understand that,” said Mayor Kinder. “I think this was seen many as a good way to target the salary issues in a very specific way.”

Tuesday voters narrowly said no to a real estate and property tax increase dedicated to salaries and benefits for police and firefighters.

Mayor Kinder says she understands the need to fund the city’s employees.

“If we don’t have a strong police department, fire department, that impacts the whole city,” said Mayor Kinder. “That impacts our business climate. That’s impacts people choosing to live here or not. So, these are very important questions that we’re going to gravel with.”

Kinder says one likely reason the measure failed could be timing and the economy.

“It was a tough time to ask for a tax increase,” said Kinder. “The economy, not just in Cape, but across the country. This is a tough time to be talking about tax increases. People are stretched thin, and costs on everything have gone up, we certainly acknowledge that.”

She says, in this climate these series of jobs are becoming rare and this year’s budget preparation will focus on recruitment and retention, as it is becoming more of an issue.

“Every year, we go through the budget process,” said Kinder. “We’re in the thick of that right now, here in the city. And we will continue to do as we’ve always done every year through our annual budget, to put together, that addresses the need of all of our employees.”

The tax increase failed by 142 votes out of 3,500 cast. If passed, the increase would have generated $2 million annually to benefit public safety employees, police, and firefighters.

During an interview with FOX23 News in March, Kinder explained police and firefighters will see the same cost of living raise as other city employees. That will be determined in June when the next budget is finalized.

She says now it’s time for the city to move forward.

“And so we’re just really going to have to think about why it failed, what people are telling us, and certainly this issue is not going away,” she said.

Kinder says the city will continue focus on how to uniquely address needs for those employees.