1/4-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax Program

In April 2019, Springfield voters approved the renewal of an 1/4-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax (with no tax increase) for the 10th time to fund capital improvement and transportation improvement projects in Springfield, this time with a 20-year sunset.

The sales tax was first approved in 1989 and was renewed in 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019.

The current 1/4-cent sales tax is estimated to generate approximately $250 million, which is being invested in projects such as road, bridge and intersection improvements, school sidewalks and traffic signals. 

When possible, funding is leveraged with other partners including county, state, federal, and developer funding to increase the investment return to the citizens of Springfield.

Project Selection

Proposed projects are selected through a combination of public input, City department and partner agency assessed need, prior public/partner agency commitment and equitable geographic distribution.

Public input is gathered via a citizen survey. Citizens are asked to identify their top priority projects and offer input to guide investment in programs. 

City/agency need is determined by City departments and partner agencies who assess other variables that may impact the project's overall benefit to the community. Total crashes, traffic capacity, infrastructure condition, economic development potential and flooding in the project area are all factors considered.

Maintaining Accountability

Public input and project prioritization processes will continue to be conducted on a regular basis to collect feedback to be used in the selection of future projects and programs over the now 20-year term. 

The City's 6-year Capital Improvement Project planning process and Citizen Tax Oversight Committee process will continue to guide accountability.