BE OUR GUEST: MISSOURI'S SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA MAY VIOLATE THE HANCOCK AMENDMENT

Margaret Kelly is a Republican and Missouri state auditor.

It is time for someone to be truthful with Missouri taxpayers. It's time to stop the lie supporters of the school tax increase are promoting: the idea that a judge ordered the state to increase taxes. He did not. Judge Byron Kinder's order was to increase funding for education, which I agree with, but that doesn't mean we have to increase taxes as well.

It's also time to stop the misleading suggestions that the state can raise over $500 million without triggering a refund. No one can legitimately make that statement, and such manipulation of the facts may end up costing the state a lot of money.

It's time to stop saying we're within a "trust zone" on the subject of constitutional limitations for spending and taxing. Missourians trust the legislature and governor to follow the law and the con~stitution, which places ~~limits on the amount of taxes that can be raised without a vote of the people.

And it's time to put a stop to state-ordered property tax increases for our school districts.

Even though he signed the bill, Gov. Carnahan does not have the final say on this issue. The Missouri Constitution gives the final say to the people of this state. They have a right to challenge unconstitutional local tax increases, and ask for a refund if both the state tax and spending lid are exceeded.

When you mix all of this together, what you have are the makings of a tax revolt. And Gov. Carnahan may very well have one on his hands when all of these new taxes take ~effect.

Any person who agrees with me on these issues should contact Gov. Carnahan's office directly and let him know what you think. His phone number is 751-3222.

I intend to do everything I can to ensure that the people's rights are upheld.

As state auditor, I have the responsibility to:

report whether or not the state Hancock limit has been exceeded.

determine if a local tax has been unconstitutionally increased.

hold the state's feet to the fire to ensure these new funds are spent as promised.

As state auditor, I am also committed to communicating my findings to the people of Missouri.

If a local property tax increase is enacted without a vote, and it violates the constitution, I will make sure the taxpayers in that school district know what their rights are to challenge that tax.

If the state exceeds the Hancock limit on revenue and spending, then I intend to make sure taxpayers know that they are entitled to a refund.

If this money is not spent in Missouri classrooms and for Missouri schools, I intend to make sure taxpayers know it.

My office issues three reports every year that will provide this information to taxpayers. I issue a state Hancock review, a statewide property tax review and a review of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

I know it is popular to call the 1993 session of the General Assembly "a victory," "the most productive ever" and "a winner for everyone." But what the last session told me is that Missouri taxpayers have few advocates in the General Assembly and none in the governor's office.

I warned the legislature and the governor in April that this bill could be a big problem. They chose to ignore those warnings. I raised serious questions regarding the amount of taxes the state could raise without a vote of the people.

I am an advocate for Missouri children. I agree that education should be our top priority. But the governor and some of the legislative leadership must stop misleading taxpayers. Remember the lottery! The same thing happened there.

Our public officials need to be honest and straightforward with Missouri taxpayers.

As auditor, I can make sure taxpayers have the information they need to make informed decisions and exercise their constitutional rights.