The city is very serious about seeking input from citizens. It won't be possible to put every improvement suggested at these forums on the list of projects, but it will be helpful in setting priorities.

In the past elections, the city has told citizens what it would do with the money. The city has an excellent record of fulfilling what it promised. All of the financial data and accomplishments are being presented at the forums.

The city has had a capital improvement sales tax since 1988. The tax always has had a sunset provision. Because of the sunset provision, this will be the fourth time voters will be asked to renew the tax. The sunset provisions have made the city accountable as to how it spends the money. The tax will expire at the end of June of 2010. The first time the tax was proposed, the sunset provision was for five years. The second and third times, voters approved the tax it had eight-year sunsets. It was last approved in 2001.

Over its lifetime, the tax has produced more than $25 million. The city would not have been able to make the capital improvements it has without the tax.

At the informal forums, how the money has been spent and questions will be answered. There is no formal speaking program. The forums are similar to the ones MoDOT holds. A news story has the schedule for the forums.

After the forums, a citizens' committee will be formed to promote passage of the tax.

It's important to remember this is not a new tax. It would be an extension of a present tax.