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Nov. 6th Ballot Issues:
Prop Z to Fund Zoo Expansion To North County
and Gas Tax are Top Nov. 6th Ballot Issues
By Bob Lindsey
While there are several ballot issues, local and statewide, generating a lot of attention with voters in the upcoming Nov. 6th ballot, none may have a more of impact on North County than Prop Z. This is the one-eighth of one cent sales tax for future upkeep of the St. Louis Zoo and development of a zoo 425-acre safari-type park at the site of the Pipefitters property in Spanish Lake.
The St. Louis Zoo Association recently completed purchase of the Pipefitters site with the center of interest being plans for 250-acres for a breeding facility and another 175 acres for a wildlife adventure park. But one of the key provision is that St. Louis County residents won’t have to pay admission at the new facility, but those living elsewhere would pay an admission fee. The sales tax would be paid by anyone who buys something in St. Louis County. The tax would not be required in St. Louis City.
Jeffrey Bonner, president and CEO of the St. Louis Zoo, told members of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce at a recent luncheon, that the Spanish Lake location is a great one for the zoo’s plans. He also indicated that despite the need for upgrades at the existing zoo grounds, the ballot proposal for the 1/8-cent rate increase would not be on the ballot if it wasn’t for plans to develop the breeding grounds and build a safari park attraction at the huge the North County location. “It’s a great location for our new experiences….We found the right place,” Bonner said.
While some have argued that the zoo should charge admission for all, that would require a change in the state law, but Bonner is against admission fees at the Forest Park location, saying it would dramatically change the entire region’s tourism industry. St. Louis is known as one of the few larger American cities that offers many free top tourist attractions.
Proposition D Gasoline Tax For Highway Safety
PROPOSITION D GASOLINE TAX FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY
A statewide ballot measure generating the most attention by North County leaders is Proposition D that would increase the state fuel tax by 2.5 cents per year for the next four years, for a 10-cent total tax hike. The state’s current gasoline tax, one of the lowest in the nation, has been 17-cents per gallon since 1996, the last time there was a gasoline tax hike in Missouri.
Gov. Mike Parson was in town last week stumping for the gas tax increase and was joined by Overland Mayor Mike Schneider and his cousin, Florissant Mayor Tom Schneider. A large gathering of students, labor leaders and emergency responders were on hand for rally at Clayco Construction Co. last Thursday.
Florissant Mayor Schneider points out that Missouri is 47th in highway funding in the nation with the seventh most roads to maintain. “There is a roadblock ahead if Prop D does not pass,” the mayor said. Instead of “caution construction” signs, the mayor said we will see “Detour: Road Closed Ahead” signs creating traffic nightmares.
Over the next ten years, Prop D funds would mean more than $2 billion in new state funding. Schneider said that would pay for about 46,000 miles of highway pavement and fixing or replacing 1,700 bridges.
Prop D also has the support of the two largest business/civic organizations in North County. North County, Inc. and the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce are supporting the measure and their boards passed resolutions backing Prop D.
Over the next ten years, Prop D funds would mean more than $2 billion in new state funding. Schneider said that would pay for about 46,000 miles of highway pavement and fixing or replacing 1,700 bridges.
Prop D also has the support of the two largest business/civic organizations in North County. North County, Inc. and the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce are supporting the measure and their boards passed resolutions backing Prop D.
Other propositions garnering a lot of interest include:
- Proposition B that would increase the minimum wage to $8.60 per hour and then an 85-cents per hour increase per year for the next ten years. That would make the minimum wage $12 per hour by 2023.
- Proposition C would remove state prohibition on personal use and possession of medical cannabis (marijuana) with a written certification from a physician who treats a patient diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition. This would impose a two percent tax on the retail sale of medical marijuana, which would go for veterans’ services, drug treatment and early childhood education.
- Proposition F would amend the County Charter to authorize casinos licensed by the Missouri Gaming Commission to allow smoking on no more than 50 percent of the gambling floor area. A stronger anti-smoking proposal called Proposition E would have banned smoking in public places entirely, but a judge ruled it off the ballot for technical reasons involving signatures and deadlines. Prop E will still appear on the ballot, but votes won’t be counted, as there was not enough time to remove it from the printed ballot.
In addition to these measures plus the candidates on the Nov. 6th ballot, there are four Constitutional Amendments on the ballot concerning redrawing the state legislative districts, removing language limiting bingo advertising and two amendments on the specific uses of medical marijuana.
This November ballot is one of largest in recent years. Voters are encouraged to seek more details on all the candidates, amendments and propositions. (See story on sample ballot available online.)
