MISSOURI'S BALLOT CONTAINS THE MOST ISSUES IN 72 YEARS

On Nov. 3, voters will not only considered a long list of county, state and national candidates, but they will decide eight constitutional amendments and two statutory propositions. It's the most statewide issues on the ballot in 72 years.

That does not include city and county issues that may also have been placed on the general election ballot. In Cape Girardeau County, voters will be deciding whether the county should have planning and zoning, while voters in the city of Cape Girardeau will consider whether city council members should be elected by zones.

Both local issues were placed on the ballot through the petition process.

Missouri Secretary of State Roy Blunt, the state's chief election authority, is urging voters to become familiar with the issues before they enter the booth. The ballot questions are relatively short, but could be confusing to voters who are reading them the first time.

"This will be a confusing and complicated ballot, but if Missourians take time now to be informed, they can cut their time in the voting booth and shorten voting lines," explained Blunt.

Issues deal with such things as increasing opportunities for gambling in Missouri, toll roads, changing the percentage required for passing certain tax increases and bond issues, term limits, expanding the duties of the lieutenant governor, victims' rights, and to require funding of a "Rainy Day Fund."

All of the issues are on the ballot as the result of legislation passed in the last two sessions of the Missouri General Assembly, except for the term-limit measures, which were placed by the initiative petition process.

Proposition A would enable Missouri to join many other states in legalizing riverboat gambling. This measure would allow the gambling only on boats operating on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, would limit losses for each person to $500 per excursion, and tax revenues would be divided between local governments and the state.

Before a boat could dock in a city or county, voter approval would be needed. The boats would be regulated by the Missouri Division of Tourism. The proposition is being offered as a way of generating additional revenue for the state and increasing tourism.

Amendment 3 would allow for betting on televised horse races from other horse tracks, but only if a horse track for wagering was established in the state. Voters approved parimutuel betting in 1984; however, no race track has been established in Missouri yet. The amendment would provide for simulcast horse racing either at the established race track or at off-site locations, subject to approval of the Missouri Racing Commission.

The amendment is being presented as an increased inducement for investors to build and operate tracks in Missouri.

Amendment 4 is being billed as the "Crime Victims Bill of Rights" and would allow victims of crime to be informed of how the criminal justice system works and their rights in the criminal justice system. Victims would have the right to be present at criminal court proceedings, the right to be informed if the defendant is released or escapes from prison, and the right to seek restitution.

If this amendment passes, enabling legislation would have to be passed to put it into effect.

Amendment 2 would allow for the construction of toll roads and bridges in Missouri, which are currently illegal. The toll roads and bridges would be operated by toll road authorities, which would use toll revenue to pay off construction bonds and for maintenance.

State funds could not be used to pay construction costs for toll-road and bridge projects.

Under Amendment 6, a Budget Stabilization Fund established by state law in 1985 would be required in the state constitution. Even though it has been a statutory requirement, no state money has been appropriated into the fund until this year, when $17 million was placed into it.

The purpose of the fund is to provide a cushion in years when revenue projections are under what the state budget was based on. This would reduce the need for major withholdings from state agencies that have been done the last few years due to revenue shortfalls. The fund would also provide money for an emergency.

The fund would maintain a balance of between 3 percent and 5 percent of current collections, which at this time would range between $136 million and $226 million. Money could be taken from this fund only by a four-sevenths vote of both the House and the Senate.

Amendments 12 and 13 deal with term limitations - number 12 with state legislative terms and 13 with members of Congress.

The state limit would prohibit a person from serving more than eight years in either the House or Senate, with a total limit of 16 years in both houses. Years served prior to the passage of this amendment would not be counted.

The federal limit would not take effect until at least half of the states adopted similar measures. Service of members of the U.S. House would be limited to eight years and U.S. senators would be limited to serving 12 years. Years served prior to implementation of the limit would not be counted.

Under Amendment 1, the percentage of qualified voters necessary to approve certain tax increases would be decreased. Under the present constitution, a two-thirds majority of votes is needed in favor of tax increases if cities want to increase their operating levies above $1; first-class counties above 35 cents; all other counties above 50 cents; and school districts above $3.75.

This amendment would lower that requirement to four-sevenths, if the proposal is presented to voters at a city general election or at a state primary or general election. If the question were presented at any other election, a two-thirds majority would still be required.

Amendment 10 would apply only to the city of St. Louis; however, statewide approval is needed. Passage of the amendment would reduce the number of yes votes needed to raise property taxes to pay bonds in the city of St. Louis from two-thirds to four-sevenths in all elections.

The present constitution allows the four-sevenths only in city general elections or statewide primary and general elections.

Proposition C would assign additional duties to the lieutenant governor. Presently, the lieutenant governor's only official duties are to cast deciding votes in case of ties in the Missouri Senate and to take over the duties of governor if the current governor is unable to perform the duties of the office.

Seven new statutory duties would be added to the office. The lieutenant governor would sit on several boards and commissions advising on state economic development and tourism efforts and would serve on the Board of Fund Commissioners, which is responsible for issuing bonds in behalf of the state. The lieutenant governor would also become an adviser to the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for early childhood and Parents as Teachers programs.

A final new duty would put the lieutenant governor in charge of a newly established Office of Advocacy and Assistance for the Elderly within the office.

No added compensation would be given for the additional duties.