Heritage Tax:: Site For Sore Eyes?

The Cultural Heritage Tax, "Save Our Sites" campaign for most St. Joseph voters is a proposal that`s been lost in translation. And for many it`s a side-note of the ongoing St. Joseph Museums battle. But campaign supporters say... "It is much greater than that... The cultural heritage tax is a real opportunity for this community to support all the cultural groups," John Pinzino, Campaign Chairman. The cost to consumers is 15 hundredths of a cent, one penny per 7 dollar purchase. It`s a tax that hopes to cash in on tourism says Marci Bennett of the St. Joseph Convention and Visitor`s Bureau. But some residents say, just because you build it doesn`t mean they`ll come, and local`s will end up shouldering the burden with each item they buy in the county. The Buchanan County Commission would appoint a 6 member board to administer the tax funds. Eastern District Commissioner Dan Hausman says it`s not an easy task, the search for 6 volunteers with-out prior connections or bias toward any one group. And even after the board is selected it`ll take time to set up an application process for the expected 30 organizations who look for a piece of the projected 1.5 million dollar pot. The projected 7.625 % tax is the second lowest sales of it`s kind in the area, including Andrew County and Kansas City sales taxes. If successful the tax will augment millions in private donations that currently keep events like the Apple Blossom Festival running.