MoDOT director says governor's commission plan not necessary

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's top transportation official says there is no need for a proposal sought by Gov. Matt Blunt that would expand the State Highways and Transportation Commission to include members who would represent specific interests.

The Senate has already approved a bill that would add two commissioners -- one for aviation and mass transit and the other for rail and river transportation. The measure, which Blunt called for in his State of the State address, is pending in the House of Representatives.

The commission, the Missouri Department of Transportation's governing authority, currently has six members, none of whom is a specialist.

During testimony Friday before the Government Review Commission, which is studying the overall structure of state agencies, MoDOT director Pete Rahn was asked for his opinion of Blunt's plan.

Although MoDOT has wide-ranging responsibilities, Rahn noted that transportation initiatives other than road and bridge improvements account for a minuscule percentage of the department's total spending.

"To have commissioners designated for specific modes beyond highways and bridges, I'm not sure what their function would be when in reality the commission makes very few decisions on those modes," Rahn said.

If the legislature wants to expand the commission, Rahn said it should just do so without mandating representation for certain interests.

One idea Rahn said he absolutely opposes is appointing commissioners to represent particular regions, a concept the legislature has long kicked around but that is not being seriously pursued this year. The experience of states with such a system is that commissioners focus on delivering projects for their areas instead of working for what is best for the state as a whole, Rahn said.

Assessment concerns

Educators and lawmakers from urban areas have long complained their schools are getting shortchanged by the state's education funding formula because assessed property values in rural areas are significantly lower than they should be.

Generally speaking, the current formula funnels more state money to districts that have relatively little local wealth. If rural county assessors would do a better job establishing actual property values, the argument goes, rural school districts would generate more local tax revenue, freeing up more state money for all districts. Most urban assessors are appointed and, unlike their elected rural counterparts, don't have to worry about being ousted by voters angry over large assessment increases.

"A problem I've always had with the formula is assessment practices around this state are not fair at all," said state Sen. Tim Green, D-St. Louis.

Although a bill to rewrite the formula that cleared the Senate last week would eliminate the role assessed values play in distributing state education money, Green and some other urban lawmakers said it contains a serious flaw.

The amount of local money a district receives this year under the current formula is a key factor in determining what it would get under the new formula. If rural districts are receiving less local money than they should because of poor assessment practices, then the bill would lock faulty revenue data into the new formula to the detriment of urban districts.

Legislating safety

Safety advocates clashed with proponents of freedom of choice Thursday as the Senate debated a bill that would make wearing helmets optional for motorcycle riders over age 21.

State Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, said he has witnessed the gruesome consequences of not wearing a helmet firsthand.

"I don't believe there will be a single vote in this General Assembly from someone who has personal experience observing a fatality," Nodler said. "The bill may be popular, but it is bad public policy. It is simply wrong."

State Sen. John Cauthorn, the bill's sponsor, said nothing the state can do will stop accidents from occurring.

"I don't think we can legislative everyone's safety," said Cauthorn, R-Mexico.

After a long debate, the Senate shelved the bill. But senators could return to it later.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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