Two sales taxes pass with overwhelming support in Springfield

Springfield voters renewed two transportation sales taxes by a landslide in Tuesday’s election.

Both the 1/4-cent capital improvements and 1/8-cent transportation taxes won around 86 percent approval, preliminary results from the Greene County Clerk's website show.

Mayor Bob Stephens spent Tuesday night at a watch party.

“We’re not sure we’ve ever seen a tax renewal this high,” Stephens told the News-Leader.

The taxes have been around for at least two decades and have historically passed with more than 70 percent support.

This election was the first time both taxes appeared on the same ballot, since one is up for renewal every four years, while the other is every three years.

Stephens said he thinks voters’ overwhelming support shows a pent-up demand for projects as Springfield is coming out of a recession.

“(It shows) voters — in spite of distractions the city has had with the county — trust us to have stuff done,” said Stephens, referencing the yearlong squabble local officials have had over the Greene County Jail.

Combined, the taxes will bring in about $15 million for the city annually.

“In terms of improving the roads, almost all of the funding comes through (these two taxes),” said Dan Smith, Springfield's director of public works, in a previous interview with the News-Leader.

City officials listed 15 projects that they will complete or begin with the funds from the taxes. Citywide transportation improvements include resurfacing streets, fixing sidewalks and improving intersections.

WHAT THE TAXES WILL PAY FOR

Proposed construction projects

•  City officials plan to widen Cherry Street from Barnes to Oak Grove avenues with bike lanes and sidewalks.
• The plan is to replace the Grand Street bridge over Jordan Creek, improve the railroad crossing and widen Grand with sidewalks and bike lanes. 
• City officials plan to widen Primose from South to Kimbrough avenues to five lanes and provide sidewalks.
• Republic Road, just west of Campbell, will be widened to five lanes.
• The city plans to increase the capacity of the Battlefield Road and Fremont Avenue intersection with roadway improvements.

Proposed program projects

• City officials plan to make stormwater improvements in Beechwood Heights Subdivision.
• They plan to relocate Eastgate Avenue to a new traffic signal location.
• The plan is to make stormwater improvements in Ravenwood South Subdivision.
• City officials plan to replace traffic signals at the Division and Grant Intersection.
• The right turn lane angles will be improved at the Battlefield and National intersection.
• The right turn lane angles will be improved at the Battlefield and Campbell intersection.

Proposed design projects

• City officials plan to convert Central Street from Campbell to Sherman avenues to a "complete street" with sidewalks and bike trail.
• They plan to reconstruct Division Street from National to Glenstone avenues as a two-lane road with a center turn lane.
• The plan is to widen Galloway Street from Luster to Lone Pine avenues with bike infrastructure and sidewalks.
• City officials plan to improve the Campbell Avenue and Walnut Lawn Street intersection.