There will be four amendments being proposed on the August 4 ballot. What to know is this: all are amendments to the constitution of Missouri. That is a big deal because it will be hard to change.
• Constitutional Amendment #1 is a tax for 10 years of one-tenth of one percent sales/use tax that is used for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites, and resubmit this tax to the voters for approval in 10 years.
Some things to consider; This $100+ million statewide sales tax is split equally between state parks and soil/water conservation efforts. The DNR's Soil and Water Conservation Program uses these funds to offer farmers cost-share programs for erosion control and water quality management. Our state parks are among the best in the nation and we have many historic sites. The cost share programs go to private individuals and businesses, farms.
• Constitutional Amendment #2. Ballot language reads: Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: require all charter counties, including Jackson County, to provide for the election of a county assessor; and require assessors in all charter counties to comply with any training requirements established by general law?
From an article I have read, the people in Jackson want this and it’s only a constitutional issue because every charter county except Jackson County can already elect an assessor, and Jackson County was exempted, so the whole state must vote to change that in the constitution.
• Constitutional Amendment #4 concerns Initiative Petition or IP. This is the process by which a group may get a ballot issue before the citizens in Missouri if they get the signatures needed. Unfortunately, much out of state money funds these IP reforms. What we have now is a 51% vote needed to pass a ballot measure. So that the big cities can pass something and the rural areas do not have much of a say. This amendment would require a majority in every congressional district. Meaning every district must pass an IP measure with a majority vote. If A4 fails, our constitution will remain in open season for out of state money to change our constitution. That has been terrible for Missouri.
• Constitutional Amendment #5 This is the gradual abolishing of the state income tax over several years based on revenue growth. It also authorizes the expansion of other taxes. This amendment also would suspend the Hancock Amendment which limits government taxation and spending. The Hancock Amendment restricts how much revenue the state and local governments can collect and requires voter approval for most tax and fee increases. Ending that would allow for taxes to be raised at high rates with no caps. So while it at first looks like we will be done with the income tax, it authorizes more taxes with no caps. Scary.
Please consider this as you vote on August 4th.
Cathy Boero
Bourbon
