Missourians reminded About Five November Statewide Ballot Measures (including officialization of English)

Thu Oct 23 20:45:10 UTC 2008

Carnahan Reminds Missourians About Five November Statewide Ballot Measures

Jefferson City, Missouri  — Missouri voters will have the opportunity
to vote on two constitutional amendments and three statutory
amendments during the November 4, 2008 general election.  To provide
voters with a better understanding of the impact of their votes on
these issues, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan reminded voters about
the official ballot title and fair ballot language for each proposal.
A simple majority of votes cast, for each individual issue, will
determine whether the issue passes or fails.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1
[Proposed by the 94th General Assembly (First Regular Session) HJR 7]
Official Ballot Title:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to add a statement that
English shall be the language of all governmental meetings at which
any public business is discussed, decided, or public policy is
formulated whether conducted in person or by communication equipment
including conference calls, video conferences, or Internet chat or
message board?
It is estimated this proposal will have no costs or savings to state
or local governmental entities.
Fair Ballot Language:
A "yes" vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to add a statement
that English shall be the language of all governmental meetings at
which any public business is discussed, decided, or public policy is
formulated. This includes meetings conducted in person or by other
means of communication including conference calls, video conference,
Internet chat, or Internet message board.
A "no" vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to add a
statement that English shall be the language of all governmental
meetings at which any public business is discussed, decided, or public
policy is formulated.
This proposition will have no impact on taxes.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 4
[Proposed by the 94th General Assembly (Second Regular Session) SJR 45]
Official Ballot Title:
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.
Fair ballot language:
A "yes" vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to change the
provisions relating to the financing of stormwater control projects.
Currently, the Missouri Constitution allows the legislature to issue
bonds or other types of debt so that grants and loans may be provided
to municipalities and water and sewer districts in certain counties
and cities for stormwater control.
This amendment will limit funding to only public water and sewer
districts. It removes the current limitation on the amount of funds
that can be made available for these projects and removes the
restrictions on the method of disbursing these funds. It further
provides that loan repayment funds shall be deposited into a specific
fund to be used for stormwater control projects.
A "no" vote will not change the provisions relating to the financing
of stormwater control projects.
If passed, this measure will not have an impact on taxes.

PROPOSITION A
[Proposed by Initiative Petition]
Official Ballot Title:
Shall Missouri law be amended to:
€    repeal the current individual maximum loss limit for gambling;
€    prohibit any future loss limits;
€    require identification to enter the gambling area only if
necessary to establish that an individual is at least 21 years old;
€    restrict the number of casinos to those already built or being built;
€    increase the casino gambling tax from 20% to 21%;
€    create a new specific education fund from gambling tax proceeds
generated as a result of this measure called the "Schools First
Elementary and Secondary Education Improvement Fund"; and
€    require annual audits of this new fund?
State governmental entities will receive an estimated $105.1 to $130.0
million annually for elementary and secondary education, and $5.0 to
$7.0 million annually for higher education, early childhood
development, veterans, and other programs. Local governmental entities
receiving gambling boat tax and fee revenues will receive an estimated
$18.1 to $19.0 million annually.
Fair Ballot Language:
A "yes" vote will amend Missouri law to:
·         repeal the current individual maximum loss limit for gambling;
·         prohibit any future loss limits;
·         require identification to enter the gambling area only if
necessary to establish that an individual is at least 21 years old;
·         restrict the number of casinos to those already built or being built;
·         increase the casino gambling tax from 20% to 21%;
·         create a new specific education fund from gambling tax
proceeds generated as a result of this measure called the "Schools
First Elementary and Secondary Education Improvement Fund"; and
·         require annual audits of this new fund.
A "no" vote will maintain the current individual maximum loss limit of
five hundred dollars for each gambling excursion. The casino gambling
tax will not be increased nor will the "Schools First Elementary and
Secondary Education Improvement Fund" be created. Also, the number of
new casinos that may be built in Missouri will not be restricted.
If passed, this measure will increase the casino gambling tax.

PROPOSITION B
[Proposed by Initiative Petition]
Official Ballot Title:
Shall Missouri law be amended to enable the elderly and Missourians
with disabilities to continue living independently in their homes by
creating the Missouri Quality Homecare Council to ensure the
availability of quality home care services under the Medicaid program
by recruiting, training, and stabilizing the home care workforce?
The exact cost of this proposal to state governmental entities is
unknown, but is estimated to exceed $510,560 annually. Additional
costs for training are possible. Matching federal funds, if available,
could reduce state costs. It is estimated there would be no costs or
savings to local governmental entities.
Fair Ballot Language:
A "yes" vote will amend Missouri law to enable the elderly and
Missourians with disabilities to continue living independently in
their homes by creating the Missouri Quality Homecare Council. If
formed, this Council will ensure the availability of quality home care
services under the Medicaid program by recruiting, training, and
stabilizing the home care workforce.
A "no" vote means the Missouri Quality Homecare Council will not be created.
This measure will have no impact on taxes.

PROPOSITION C
[Proposed by Initiative Petition]
Official Ballot Title:
Shall Missouri law be amended to require investor-owned electric
utilities to generate or purchase electricity from renewable energy
sources such as solar, wind, biomass and hydropower with the renewable
energy sources equaling at least 2% of retail sales by 2011 increasing
incrementally to at least 15% by 2021, including at least 2% from
solar energy; and restricting to no more than 1% any rate increase to
consumers for this renewable energy?
The estimated direct cost to state governmental entities is $395,183.
It is estimated there are no direct costs or savings to local
governmental entities.  However, indirect costs may be incurred by
state and local governmental entities if the proposal results in
increased electricity retail rates.
Fair Ballot Language:
A "yes" vote will amend Missouri law to require investor-owned
electric utilities to generate or purchase electricity from renewable
energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass (including ethanol) and
hydropower.  The required renewable energy sources must equal the
following percentages of retail sales:
€      2% by 2011
€      5% by 2014
€      10% by 2018
€      15% by 2021.
Of the total renewable energy sources required to be sold, at least 2%
shall be solar sources.  Also, any rate increase to consumers
resulting from this measure must be no more than 1%.
A "no" vote will not require Missouri's investor-owned electric
utilities to generate or purchase electricity from renewable energy
sources.
This measure will not have an impact on taxes.

http://mopressnews.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/carnahan-reminds-missourians-about-five-november-statewide-ballot-measures/

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