St. Joseph council backs CIP project list, schedules sales‑tax question for August ballot

The St. Joseph City Council on May 1 approved a resolution expressing the city’s intent to expand capital improvements program (CIP) sales‑tax funds for projects listed in a committee exhibit, moving the measure forward toward a ballot election set for Aug. 8, 2023.

Steve McKamey, who chaired the CIP committee, told the council the panel reviewed more than $80 million in proposed projects and prioritized about $35 million for the ballot. ‘‘We came in with over $80,000,000 worth of projects. We had $35,000,000 we could come out with,’’ McKamey said, urging the council to adopt the committee’s recommendations.

Kenneth Reeder, a public commenter, praised the committee but asked the council to delay action and reexamine at least one project — a fixed base operator (FBO) development at the airport — that Reeder said could attract a $4 million private partnership match and ‘‘change the paradigm’’ of local economic development.

Nancy Kelly, another commenter, supported parts of the CIP while urging that the South End firehouse be remodeled rather than relocated; she cited cost estimates provided in committee materials (remodel approximately $3,000,178; relocate approximately $4,000,290, not including land acquisition).

After public comment, council members voted 8–0 to approve the resolution expressing commitment to the listed capital projects and to proceed with placing a sales‑tax extension on the ballot on Aug. 8, 2023. Several speakers and members emphasized the list is not immutable and asked that staff and the CIP committee continue to refine project details before voters decide.

The approved exhibit and the council’s resolution do not themselves appropriate funds; final project spending would depend on voter approval of the sales‑tax extension.