KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffFollow the tax money: Cape Parks & Rec
Member Center:
By Jeff Cunningham - bio | email
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo (KFVS) - In April of 2008, the taxpayers of Cape Girardeau County approved a half cent sales tax that went to the Parks and Recreation Department.You may have seen the construction going on of a water park near the Osage Centre that you the taxpayer are helping to build, but how is all of your money being spent? And do you think it's worth it?
The Parks and Rec Department got $20 million to play with and the biggest chunk is being spent next to the Osage Centre on a water park.
Cape Parks and Rec Director Dan Muser says this is something people really wanted.
The water park will include a 700 foot lazy river, a 25 foot wide waterfall, a bathhouse, two slides of 140 feet and longer, two smaller slides, a kiddie pool, a plunge area and a six lane lap pool.
It's being built right next to the Osage Centre which is getting a face lift that includes a new meeting room, a fitness room and a shower complex.
Cost to you the taxpayer for both--$8.6 million. The water park is set to open in spring of 2010.
The Arena Park complex is seeing improvements, too. The arena building got a new roof, exterior improvements and an emergency generator. The ballfields got new lighting and fencing...cost to you the tax payer...around $1.5 million.
What about the Jaycee Municipal golf course? It's going to look a lot different when it reopens in spring or summer of next year. The new Bent Grass Greens are coming in nicely, there is new landscaping and the back nine has changed a lot with holes 11 through 14 completely different. Muser says it's going to be like a completely new golf course.
Cost to you the tax payer...$1.5 million. Is that a hole in one?
The Shawnee Sports Complex is getting additional sports fields and a new community center.
Cost to you the tax payer around $4.4 million...is that worth it?
Muser says there are several other projects going on at area parks that makes up for the money we didn't cover in addition to the operational costs.
The majority of the half cent sales tax has a 10 year sunset clause. A minority doesn't to take care of future operating costs.
©2009 KFVS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments Terms of Use: We welcome your participation in our community. Please keep your comments civil and on point. Notify us of any inappropriate comments by clicking the “Mark as Offensive” link. You must be at least 13 years of age to post comments. By submitting a comment, you agree to these
Terms of Service
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login or register See all comments |
Authorities say 18 year old Benjamin Ingram of Enfield, Illinois and 16 year old Taylor Cokley also of Enfield, IL died as a result of injuries they sustained in the crash.
A published report says a 13-year-old central Illinois student died after a group of boys were engaged in a so-called "punching game."
Missouri state troopers say 70-year-old Delores Allred was walking thru a parking lot when she stepped in front of an older model ford truck driven by 68-year-old Wallace Maxwell of pacific, mo.
Associated Press - September 4, 2010 5:24 PM ET STEELE, Mo. (AP) - Three Arkansas residents, including two children, have been killed in a two-vehicle collision in southeast Missouri.
A Madisonville man has been indicted after investigators say his wife was eaten by maggots as she lay in her bed dying.
Williamson County Sheriff's deputies need help from the public to solve a burglary at a local bar and grill.
The fire broke out around 9:15 Friday evening at a mobile home on Route W.
Kentucky State Police have charged a woman after a 2-year-old boy that she was supposed to be watching was found wandering in the street in Union County.
It was a frightening moment on the football field at Thursday night's junior high game in Chaffee as 13-year-old Lane Henson quickly became the center of attention when he was airlifted off the field.
A teenager was struck by a vehicle and killed when he was trying to cross an interstate in the St. Louis area.
