

March 27, 2008 Volume 4, Number 13
In This Issue Budget Philosophy Sample Ballots Contact Me *Representative* *Cynthia Davis* 19^th District *Majority Floor Whip* Missouri State Capitol Room 112 201 W. Capitol Ave. Jefferson City, MO 65101 Phone: 573-751-9768 Website http://www.cynthiadavis.net/ E-Mail cynthia.davis@house.mo.gov Committees Interim Committee on Poverty *Chair* Health Care Policy *Vice Chair* Family Services *Vice Chair* Elections State Links State of Missouri *Official Homepage for Missouri State Government* Missouri General Assembly *Official Government Homepage for your Missouri Senator and Representative* House of Representatives *Look up Missouri House Bills – View Entire Text, Summary, and Last Action* Missouri State Senate *Look up Missouri Senate Bills* Attorney General's Office *Consumer Complaints & Fraudulent Activity, No-Call List* Local Links St. Charles County Government City of O'Fallon City of Dardenne Prairie City of St. Peters City of Wentzville City of St. Charles Federal Links Congressman Todd Akin Congressman Kenny Hulshof Senator Kit Bond Senator Claire McCaskill Other Links Missouri State Constitution Missouri State Jobs		The Philosophy of a Government Budget One of my favorite United States congressmen said something like this: “The wrangling over the budget is not an accounting problem. It’s a philosophy problem.” This week, the House worked on the state budget for next year. Most of the discussion had nothing to do with numbers. It centered on priorities. There will always be enough money in the budget to do whatever we decide is important. It always amazes me how often governments come to the voters for tax increases to accomplish that which they should have been doing all along. Every year I hear people complain about how high their taxes are, yet it is the voters who vote to place themselves in this level of bondage. WE DO IT TO OURSELVES. Most may do this without realizing it because the amount requested always sounds like a small percentage. However, all governments get inflationary increases automatically, so we must ask why any government needs a tax increase for services it should be providing now. I don’t blame any government for asking for a tax increase, especially if it is for something extraordinary with an ending date. However, if the new tax is for something essential, we must ask, “Why didn’t they plan ahead and build this into their operating budget?” Here are the principles I use when considering a tax increase on the ballot: A vote for a real estate increase discourages people from improving their homes and discourages businesses from expanding. A vote for a sales tax increase discourages people from shopping locally. This drives more customers to the internet and Chesterfield or North County where the sales taxes are less. When tax propositions fail, it forces the local taxing jurisdiction to sharpen their pencils, find greater efficiencies and focus on the most important functions of what the government is designed to provide. While we have not seen tax increases at the state level since the Hancock Amendment was put into place, we have seen great increases at the local level. The Missouri budget has increased with inflation and has allowed us generous margins of growth, but where do we draw the line? Right now, there is no limit, but the House is working on legislation that would set one to control the budget and make sure future legislators continue to spend your tax dollars wisely. House Joint Resolution 70 proposes a constitutional amendment which would prohibit appropriations in any fiscal year from exceeding certain limits. If this resolution is approved by the legislature, you and your fellow citizens will then have the opportunity to vote on the measure. Specifically, this resolution prohibits appropriations in any fiscal year from exceeding the total state general revenue appropriations from the previous year by more than the appropriations growth limit. Now that might sound confusing, but what it means is that we would calculate and limit budget increases using a formula that considers the annual rate of inflation and the annual Missouri population growth. This bill would limit the growth of government spending and help provide long-term fiscal planning in Missouri. Left unchecked, the budget can easily increase every year. In good economic times, we easily find ways to spend the money – but because we can does not mean we should. This legislation will encourage legislators to not only spend your money wisely but would also allow us to save money. The legislation specifies that if Missouri collects more than 1 percent of the authorized general revenue appropriations allowed, the money would be put into reserve to save for the future. Plus, if the revenue in these reserve funds exceeds the specified limits, we would be able to do something few if any states do in this day and age: actually reduce the income tax rate for Missourians. While this bill does not apply to local governments, I encourage all local taxing jurisdictions to do the same. Citizens can ask their local taxing jurisdictions to adopt a similar policy. Prosperity is possible when you begin with a desire to treat the taxpayer’s dollars as carefully as you would treat your own, not grow your government to the hilt. Let’s save something for our next generation. Municipal Elections April 8 Get Ready I don’t like surprises, especially when I am in the voting booth. Presuming you may not like this kind of surprise either, I am publishing sample ballots, which you will see when you vote on April 8. I already voted absentee because I will be working hard for you in Jefferson City on election day. Absentee voting is now easier in our district because the new election facility is more conveniently located than the previous one, which meant driving into downtown St. Charles, parallel parking (if you could find a spot), walking a block and taking an elevator to the fifth floor. To vote absentee, all you have to do is drive to the Highway 79 exit off of I-70. Go North. At the very first right, turn onto Turner. Look for the two story brick building that used to have a sign, “Hoffman Tool” on the side. Although the sign has been removed, you can easily see the faded image still on the building. While the side entrance is not cosmetically fancy, it is a handy location. The people inside are charming and helpful. Here are the requirements to vote absentee according to the Secretary of State’s website: Registered Missourians who will not be able to go to their polling place on Election Day may vote absentee beginning six weeks prior to an election. Absentee voters must provide one of the following reasons for voting absentee: 1. Absence on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote; 2. Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability; 3. Religious belief or practice; 4. Employment as an election authority, as a member of an election authority, or by an election authority at a location other than such voter’s polling place; 5. Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained. They do not ask for a note from your mother or your doctor. It is so easy; you will wish you could do this every election. Sample Ballots City of O’Fallon Tuesday, April 8, 2008 For Councilman Ward 1 (Vote for one) Mark S. Perkins Daniel E. Christoff For Councilman Ward 2 (Vote for one) Pierce J. Conley For Councilman Ward 3 (Vote for one) John J. Haman, Jr. Dan Haney For Councilman Ward 4 (Vote for one) Jeff Schwentker Scott E. Lee Rick Smith Debbie Cook Shall a Commission be chosen to frame a Charter? Yes No Candidates for the Commission to Frame a Charter (You may vote for each Candidate) Maximum of Thirteen Commissioners Mark S. Perkins James Tresler Debra Hennessy Brent Stafford Jim Pepper John Callahan Mary Laulo John A. Young Dana D. Williams Note: Since only nine candidates are on the ballot, it is presumed that they will all win unless the previous question is defeated. Proposition A Shall the City of O’Fallon, Missouri be authorized to annex the property described as Bayfield, Plat 1, Plat 2, Plat 3 and Amarillo Village excluding lots currently located within the city limits of the City of O’Fallon? Yes No About this proposition: Proposition A deals with formally annexing parts of the referenced subdivision, about 100 homes, to clear up historical confusion about which properties are in the city and which are not. THIS IS A TAX INCREASE Proposition P Shall the City of O’Fallon, Missouri eliminate the property tax levied for public parks and impose a sales tax of one-half of one percent (0.5%) for the purpose of providing for local parks and recreation facilities and storm water control projects for the municipality? Yes No City of Dardenne Prairie Alderman Ward 1 (Vote for one) Scott D. Kolbe Alderman Ward 2 (Vote for one) Wendi Murray Donald Jenkins Alderman Ward 3 (Vote for one) Michael J. Conroy THIS IS A TAX INCREASE Proposition I Shall the City of Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, impose a sales tax of one-half cent (1/2) for the purpose of funding capital improvements, including acquisition of park land, improvements to recreational facilities, stormwater systems, streets, traffic signalization, storm sewer system and municipal buildings? Yes No Proposition 1 Shall the city limits of the City of Dardenne Prairie, in the county of St. Charles, State of Missouri, be extended so as to embrace and include all that part of the county of St. Charles lying within the following boundary lines, to-wit, and known as Area 1 (Post & Tech Dr) Yes No Proposition 3 Shall the city limits of the City of Dardenne Prairie, in the county of St. Charles, State of Missouri, be extended so as to embrace and include all that part of the county of St. Charles lying within the following boundary lines, to-wit, and known as Area 3 (Schlafly) Yes No Proposition 6 Shall the city limits of the City of Dardenne Prairie, in the county of St. Charles, State of Missouri, be extended so as to embrace and include all that part of the county of St. Charles lying within the following boundary lines, to-wit, and known as Area 6 (Henke & Feise) Yes No Proposition 7 Shall the city limits of the City of Dardenne Prairie, in the county of St. Charles, State of Missouri, be extended so as to embrace and include all that part of the county of St. Charles lying within the following boundary lines, to-wit, and known as Area 7 (Kaplan) Yes No Proposition 10 Shall the city limits of the City of Dardenne Prairie, in the county of St. Charles, State of Missouri, be extended so as to embrace and include all that part of the county of St. Charles lying within the following boundary lines, to-wit, and known as Area 10 (Page Ave) Yes No Fort Zumwalt School District School Board Members *Of all surprises, there are no school board members listed on your ballot because the number of applicants is equal to the number of positions open.* Wentzville School District School Board Members (Vote for three) Cheryl (Bornhop) Delaporta Patrick Nasi Michael Cecil David Ness Leasa Moor Terry Ratcliff Kenneth Groseclose Francis Howell School District School Board Members (Vote for three) Mark Lafata Bill Spencer Debbie Bixler TK Jones Steve Papin Stephen Johnson Don Kostello Mike Hoehn Mike Sommer The following applies to most residents of St. Charles County O’Fallon Fire Protection District Board of Directors (Vote for one) Charles P. Coyne Sr. David Hinman THIS IS A TAX INCREASE Proposition F Shall the board of directors of the O’Fallon Fire Protection District be authorized to levy an additional tax of not more than fifteen cents on the one hundred dollars assessed valuation to provide funds for the support of the district? Yes No St. Charles County Community College Board of Directors (Vote for two) Billy Collier Timothy Lohmar Craig W. Felzien Robert R. Proost This Capitol Report is a weekly column by Representative Cynthia Davis, from the 19^th District, covering events in the Missouri Legislature and district-wide issues. J If you know of anyone else who would like to receive my Capitol Report, please send an e-mail to Cynthia.Davis@house.mo.gov with the person’s name and e-mail address. We’ll add them to the list. L If you would like to stop receiving the Capitol Report, email us at Cynthia.Davis@house.mo.gov with “unsubscribe” in the subject line.