On the Ballot: One amendment and five propositions for Missouri and St. Louis County

The following ballot measures have been certified for the Nov. 6  general election. They appear as written for the ballot. “Fair ballot language” on state measures as well as a complete list of candidates is available here.

 

STATE OF MISSOURI

Constitutional Amendment 3

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to change the current nonpartisan selection of supreme court and court of appeals judges to a process that gives the governor increased authority to:

• appoint a majority of the commission that selects these court nominees; and

• appoint all lawyers to the commission by removing the requirement that the governor’s appointees be nonlawyers?

There are no estimated costs or savings expected if this proposal is approved by voters.

Proposition A

Shall Missouri law be amended to:

• allow any city not within a county (the City of St. Louis) the option of transferring certain obligations and control of the city’s police force from the board of police commissioners currently appointed by the governor to the city and establishing a municipal police force;

• establish certain procedures and requirements for governing such a municipal police force including residency, rank, salary, benefits, insurance, and pension; and

• prohibit retaliation against any employee of such municipal police force who reports conduct believed to be illegal to a superior, government agency, or the press?

State governmental entities estimated savings will eventually be up to $500,000 annually. Local governmental entities estimated annual potential savings of $3.5 million; however, consolidation decisions with an unknown outcome may result in the savings being more or less than estimated.

Proposition B

Shall Missouri law be amended to:

• create the Health and Education Trust Fund with proceeds of a tax of $0.0365 per cigarette and 25% of the manufacturer’s invoice price for roll-your-own tobacco and 15% for other tobacco products;

• use Fund proceeds to reduce and prevent tobacco use and for elementary, secondary, college, and university public school funding; and

• increase the amount that certain tobacco product manufacturers must maintain in their escrow accounts, to pay judgments or settlements, before any funds in escrow can be refunded to the tobacco product manufacturer and create bonding requirements for these manufacturers?

Estimated additional revenue to state government is $283 million to $423 million annually with limited estimated implementation costs or savings. The revenue will fund only programs and services allowed by the proposal. The fiscal impact to local governmental entities is unknown. Escrow fund changes may result in an unknown increase in future state revenue.

Proposition E

Shall Missouri Law be amended to prohibit the Governor or any state agency, from establishing or operating state-based health insurance exchanges unless authorized by a vote of the people or by the legislature?

No direct costs or savings for state and local governmental entities are expected from this proposal. Indirect costs or savings related to enforcement actions, missed federal funding, avoided implementation costs, and other issues are unknown.

 

ST. LOUIS COUNTY

Library District Proposition L

For the purpose of renovating and replacing aging facilities, enhancing children’s spaces and youth, adult and senior programs, constructing, improving, operating and maintaining facilities of St. Louis County Library District, and acquiring necessary property, shall the $0.20 per hundred dollars assessed valuation tax for the Library District be increased to $0.26 per hundred dollars assessed valuation?

Special School District Proposition S

Shall the Board of Education of the Special School District of St. Louis County, be authorized to increase the operating tax levy to fund education for children with disabilities, expand job training and placement, improve safety, and repair, expand, furnish and equip schools, and rebuild one school, which funds shall be audited annually, by $0.19 per $100.00 assessed valuation? If this proposition is approved, the adjusted operating levy of the District is estimated to be $1.19 per $100.00 assessed valuation.