(KNZA)--Hiawatha voters will decide during the November 8th general election if a half-cent sales tax should be imposed for street, alley and parking improvements.   

The Hiawatha City Commission during a special meeting Wednesday evening unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing  placement of the sales tax issue on the ballot and voted to include a 30-year sunset provision.

If approved by voters, the sales tax, which is projected to generate more than $340,000 annually, would begin April 1st, 2017.

The decision to place a sales tax proposal before voters is the result of a work session on streets held by Commissioners Tuesday evening.  During the work session, twelve of the most traveled streets in need of repairs or replacement were discussed.

City Administator Mike Nichols says as the cost of materials and equipment continue to grow, the routine maintenance of streets becomes more difficult to accomplish with limited funds.

Currently, Nichols says most of the city's efforts go into keeping the heavily traveled streets driveable, not leaving much room for the residential streets.

Nichols says an additional half-cent sales tax would allow the city to replace those high traffic streets and at the same time use existing funds too make much needed repairs to the residential streets, ensuring all city streets are safe and well maintained.

Mayor Steffen Shamburg says he believes a sales tax is the best option for funding needed street improvements.