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Constitutional Amendment 4

State-level ballot issue in the 2008 general election

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A look at Missouri's ballot initiatives

General information

Official ballot language

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to change provisions relating to the financing of stormwater control projects by:

  • limiting availability of grants and loans to public water and sewer districts only;
  • removing the cap on available funding and existing restrictions on disbursements;
  • requiring loan repayments to be used only for stormwater control projects?

It is estimated the cost to state governmental entities is $0 to $236,000 annually. It is estimated state governmental entities will save approximately $7,500 for each bond issuance. It is estimated local governmental entities participating in this program may experience savings, however the amount is unknown.

Other info

The measure would limit "availability of grants and loans to public water and sewer districts only." The amendment would remove the cap on funding for storm water projects and lift the restrictions on how these funds can be dispensed. The ratio between how much is taken out in grants as opposed to loans can be changed without restriction. It would require that loan repayment funds be deposited into a fund for storm water control projects.

The annual cost is estimated as up to $236,000 and the state government would save around $7,500 per bond. Savings are estimated for local governments, but the total amount is unknown.

Pros and cons

Pro Con

From Karen Miller, Boone County southern district commissioner, Boone County:

  • Would allow the Department of Natural Resources to use more grants than loans to fund storm water control projects
  • With a tight economy, taking out more grants than loans would mean less money going towards the repayment on those loans and less debt for local governments.

From Lance Weber, Libertarian candidate for Missouri House of Representatives:

  • Very little public discussion about the measure
  • No improvement or change in the oversight of how these funds will be dispersed
  • “If we give political insiders more freedom to spend taxpayer money with no strings attached, they have a tendency to abuse that power,” Weber said.