AASHTO Journal, 30 May 2014
Voters in Missouri will have the opportunity to vote this summer on a measure to impose a three-fourths-cent temporary sales tax to fund transportation projects in the state, according to Governor Jay Nixon.
Nixon announced last week that House Joint Resolution 68, passed earlier this month by the Missouri General Assembly, would be on the ballot on Aug. 5. The measure would accompany four other measures passed by the General Assembly.
HJR 68 stipulates that the new revenue would fund road and bridge construction, and could not be used for anything other than transportation. Ten percent of the funding raised would be set aside for local transportation projects (5 percent each for counties and municipalities), while the remaining 90 percent will go to the “Transportation Safety and Job Creation Fund,” used at the discretion of the highways and transportation commission. The measure dictates that Missouri Department of Transportation would have to create a list of approved possible projects that could be funded through the new revenue. The measure, if approved by voters, is expected to produce $480 million more each year for the Transportation Safety and Job Creation Fund and $54 million for local governments.
The AASHTO Journal previously reported the measure would be on the November ballot. However, Nixon chose to put five measures up for a vote in August “to ensure that Missourians have an opportunity to thoroughly analyze and understand the numerous ballot questions in addition to candidates for various federal, state and local offices.”
Additional information on HJR 68 is available here.