LET'S LOOK AT BALLOT PROPS WE WILL VOTE ON IN JUST TWO WEEKS

Two weeks from today, Missouri voters will decide the fate of five constitutional amendments. At this point, probably only a few voters are aware of the ballot issues we will be asked to decide.

It is to be hoped that voters will acquaint themselves with arguments, pro and con, for each of these issues. However, these issues are often more complex than can be conveyed in the 35 words or less that are printed on the ballot. In this informational column, I have tried to provide some brief background and a clear, concise and non-judgmental description of the issues we will be asked to decide.

The following are statewide constitutional amendments to be voted on at the August 4 Missouri primary election:

Constitutional Amendment #5:

Missouri lawmakers adopted this measure to provide local governments with a funding mechanism to reinforce public buildings so that they might better withstand damage should an earthquake occur.

This amendment would allow municipal and county governments to issue bonds valued up to 5 percent of the worth of their taxable real property to retrofit public buildings against earthquake damage. If the amendment is adopted, such bonding would be allowed in Missouri. Before projects could be funded locally, however, voters in the specific subdivision would have to give their approval at the polls in a separate election.

Constitutional Amendment #7:

This amendment would increase the minimum school tax levy districts must impose to qualify for state aid for elementary and secondary schools. Now, the minimum is $1.25 per $100 assessed valuation. This amendment would increase that minimum to $2 per $100 in assessed valuation. The measure was approved as part of efforts to increase funding of public education. By requiring a larger minimum levy, districts in which voters approve only the minimum would shoulder a greater portion of the costs of educating youngsters in those districts.

If approved, the amendment would allow local schoold boards to raise their levies to the $2 minimum without a vote by the citizens of the district.

Finally, the measure would raise from $3.75 to $6 the maximum levy that could be approved by a simple majority of voters in a school district. Presently, a four-sevenths majority is required in major elections and a two-thirds majority is required in special elections.

Constitutional Amendment #8:

In February, the legislature approved a phased-in, six-cent increase in the state's motor fuels tax for additional highway funding and to allow our state to take advantage of new federal highway funds. This amendment, if approved, would change the way the revenue from the new tax is divided among the state, cities and counties in Missouri.

Under the existing system, the state retains 75 percent of the motor fuel taxes, 15 percent is provided to cities and 10 percent is provided to counties. This amendment would provide an additional 5 percent of the new fuel tax proceeds for all 113 counties, as well as the city of St. Louis, which currently receives no county fuel tax funding. The amount provided for cities would remain at 15 percent and the state would retain 70 percent of the new fuel tax proceeds.

Constitutional Amendment #9:

In 1982, courts ordered the statewide reassessment of real property and ordered levies rolled back so that the increased values assessed on property would not result in a tax increase windfall. While this addressed most levies, it did not include the real commercial property surcharges that were enacted in place of a porperty tax on inventory values.

This amendment would require that these taxes be subject to the same rate revision rules, including rollbacks, by which other property taxes are limited. The tax would be limited to 1992 levels with adjustments for inflation.

Constitutional Amendment #11:

This amendment would earmark proceeds from the state lottery and subsequently authorized gambling for public and higher education in Missouri. Now, lottery proceeds are deposited into the state's General Revenue Fund and appropriated for state services and programs, including education. Controversy has surrounded earmarking lottery funds for education since the lottery was approved in 1984. While some lottery advocates indicated the funds raised by the games would be used for education, ballot language allowing a lottery contained no such language. While this measure would earmark the lottery proceeds, it would not necessarily increase the amount of funding that is provided for education in Missouri.