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Mini Poll: Is Metro On The Right Track?
Sometime in the next year or so, residents of St. Louis county are likely to be asked - for the second time in three years - if they would be willing to support an increase in the county sales tax rate to support Metro, the region's public transportation system. Awaiting voters' answer to that question is Bob Baer, the veteran St. Louis business executive who heads Metro. Baer has said that, by the middle of next year, Metro will have exhausted one-time and other emergency funds that restored drastic cuts in service Metro's commissioners were forced to order in March. A half-cent sales tax increase in the county would generate about $80 million a year in new revenue to support Metro, and it would trigger a quarter-cent sales increase for new construction already authorized by voters in the City.
The decisions "whether" and "when" county voters will see the question will be determined by the St. Louis County Council, which must first vote to add the measure to a municipal or general election ballot. Judging from the number of ringing telephones, supporters (or opponents?) of the county's tax increase have spent the past couple of weeks surveying voter opinion. In addition, Metro has announced plans to begin a months-long public engagement process to "develop and revise" a long-term plan for its operation and expansion.
Just in case the pollsters failed to call your home, MayorSlay.com wants to ask you the same sorts of questions those out-of-town researchers are asking. Your answers may help Metro and regional leaders make some important decisions.
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