KIRKSVILLE, MO --
A proposed sales tax could help fix up downtown Kirksville.
   
The Kirksville Downtown Improvement Committee is hoping that a portion of the downtown area will become a Community Improvement District, or CID. That means the businesses in the CID will have an additional half cent sales tax that will be used for major downtown improvements.

“This was a recommendation in 2003 in the strategic plan for the downtown, it was the key number one thing and nothing happened over that eight year period so we think it's time to get moving to get something started to continue to improve. What we already have is a good downtown but we want to make it better,” said Nate Walker, KDIC Executive Director.
   
 In order to become a CID, there is a specific process that must be followed, including a vote by the affected property owners. If all goes according to the KDIC timeline, the sales tax will be implemented by October.
    
There will be a public informational meeting about the possibility of a downtown CID at 5:30 p.m. on February 22 at the Adair County Annex building.