Columbia voters expected to cast ballots in August on capital improvement sales tax extension

Columbia’s city council will first-read a bill Monday evening that calls for an August special election on whether to extend the city’s one-fourth of one percent capital improvement sales tax.

The measure will be first-read Monday and the council is expected to vote on the issue on May 20. The council held a work session on the issue with city staff last week. City manager De’Carlon Seewood is recommending that the council place the issue on the August ballot.

The city council’s packet says that if Columbia voters approve the August extension, it’s expected to generate about $83-million in the next decade.

One busy area the city is looking at improving is south Columbia’s Bethel and Green Meadows intersection. They have a $1.1-million plan to replace the four-way stop with a roundabout and add sidewalks as well. The city is also proposing a $7-million project to improve busy Clark Lane from Woodland Hills to Ballenger, an area that includes a huge school bus headquarters. The project would include widening the road, adding bicycle lanes and a center turn lane. Motorists heading eastbound on Clark lane currently cross a double yellow line to make left turns to go into Dollar General and on Hanover, causing major backups each day. That’s because there is no center turn lane.

Columbia voters approved a ballot measure in 2005 that extended the one-fourth of one percent capital improvement sales tax for three years to replace emergency storm warning sirens and to fund projects for the police and fire departments. The measure has been extended twice since then.