Jefferson City officials are preparing for the next installment of the half-cent capital improvements sales tax, expected to be placed on the ballot sometime next year.
At the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting Tuesday, Bill Lockwood, department director, said parks has identified roughly $8.2 million in unfunded capital improvement needs to be considered for the next sales tax installment. However, given parks has typically received 10 percent of the overall sales tax, Lockwood said it's estimated that, if the tax was approved by voters in 2016, about $2.45 million would be available for parks projects.
The city is currently in its sixth installment of the half-cent capital improvement sales tax, which was approved by voters in August 2011. The tax began in 1987 and is typically split between parks, public works, public safety, information technology and contingency funds. Each installment lasts for five years and typically raises about $26 million for capital projects in the city.
The list presented by Lockwood includes improvements and replacements at Ellis Porter Riverside Park, McClung Park, Hough Park, Washington Park, McKay Park, Memorial Park, Binder Park and the north Jefferson City recreation area. Lockwood said the commission would need to figure out which projects should be prioritized in the next sales tax installment.
The full City Council will meet in a work session at 5:30 p.m. April 27 to discuss the next sales tax installment, possible projects and how the funds should be split.