Extension of Sales Tax on April 6 Ballot
Posted By J.T. on March 27, 2010
On April 6, voters will decide whether or not to extend the 1/4 cent sales tax on roads through 2026.
The County Commission is quick to remind voters that this is not an increase in sales tax, but rather an extension of a tax previously enacted. A concerned citizen wrote to the Cass County Democrat-Missourian asking for clarification on how the county plans on spending the money should the issue pass.
The Commission drafted a rather lengthy response, which can be read in its entirety HERE.
- We will seek to acquire 60 ft. right-of-ways on all county roads. This should not impact people who own 40 acres. Their property should still be classified as a farm in regard to taxes, building permits, etc., fences would not have to be moved back until required by construction of road. The right-of-way footage removed would become tax exempt.
- All county roads need the ditches cleaned out and have a road width of 24 ft min. with at least a 4 % crown for gravel roads and graded from ditch to ditch with no build up of sod or debris on roadway. Paved roads will have a 2% crown. Ditches should be variable in depth from a few inches at the crown of a hill to 18 inches max where and when possible. We need to start the improvements on designated high volume gravel roads in the county and concentrate in that area until complete and not be skipping around from place to place, this might get more citizens involved and possibly some of them might allow us to dump some of the extra dirt and in a ditch or low lying areas on their property and stack brush for disposal.
- All future bridges need to have at least 40 tons load limits. This policy is in place and being executed per the “Task Forces” recommendations.
- Create a “partnership road program” or examples-NID-Neighborhood Improvements Districts. This was again…another idea that came from the citizen based “Road & Bridge Task Force”
I’m sure Commissioner Baker loved being compared to John Kerry.