A look at Missouri's ballot initiatives
Missourians will vote on three ballot initiatives and two constitutional amendments.
Oct. 30, 2008
Last spring, petitioners clamored in Speaker's Circle seeking enough signatures to put their proposed initiatives on the ballot in November. On Tuesday, Missourians will have the opportunity to vote on those measures approved by the Secretary of State: three initiatives and two amendments.
Proposition A
The measure would increase the casino gambling tax and repeal the $500 loss limit while prohibiting future loss limits. Identification would only be required to prove the prospective casino patron is 21 years of age. With the proceeds from the gambling tax, the state government would establish a fund that would give money to public schools.
Proponents estimate the state would receive between $105.1 million and $130.1 million for K-12 education and $5 million to $7 million for all other education programs, including higher education and early childhood. Local governments are projected to receive an estimated $18.1 million to $19 million in fee revenues and the boat tax. The casino gambling tax would increase from 20 percent to 21 percent.
Proposition B
The measure would create a Missouri Quality Homecare Council with the purpose of ensuring home care services under Medicaid are available. The council would oversee the recruiting, training and stabilizing of a home care workforce, which would also be allowed to unionize.
The cost of the measure is estimated to exceed $510,560 annually, with possible additional costs for training. The federal government might award matching funds to reduce state costs. Proposition B would have no financial impact on local government and it would not impact taxes.
Proposition C
Proposition C would mandate electric utility companies to generate or purchase electricity from renewable sources including solar, wind, biomass and hydropower. Renewable energy must account for 2 percent of electricity sales by 2011, 5 percent by 2014, 10 percent by 2018 with the goal of 15 percent by 2021, 2 percent of which must be from solar energy. Electricity rates for renewable energy would not increase for consumers by more than 1 percent.
The cost to the state is estimated at $395,183 annually with no direct financial impact on local government and would not affect taxes. If the retail rate of electricity goes up because of the initiative, however, there might be additional indirect costs to both state and local governments.
Constitutional Amendment 1
Amendment 1 would make English the official language for "all government proceedings" involving public policy. The proposal was passed by the General Assembly in 2007 and sponsored by Rep. Brian Nieves, R-Union.
The measure would alter Article I of the state Constitution stating English would be the language for all state and local government meetings. The measure would extend to meetings conducted using technology, including conference calls, videoconferences, Internet chats or Internet message boards.
It is estimated that the measure would neither impact taxes nor the state or local government.
Constitutional Amendment 4
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.
Related blog posts
- Voter registration deadline Oct. 8 (from Politics Watch)
- Find out where your vote counts more (from Politics Watch)
- Election Day events at Memorial Union (from Politics Watch)
- Voters approve Proposition A (from Politics Watch)
- Zweifel takes aim at Blunt (from Politics Watch)
Related articles
- County reports record number of new voters
- Mo. Democrats hope to claim House majority
- Web Update: Judge rules Proposition A can stay on ballot
- MU faculty donate more to Democrats
- A look at Missouri's ballot initiatives
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