67th District update
By Cara | March 8, 2010
March 4, 2010 Vol 2, Issue 7
Capitol Update
67th District
Greetings!
I’d like to thank the voters of the 67th District-City of St. Louis for electing me as your Representative. We started the Second Regular Session, of the 95th General Assembly and I am excited to be back in Jefferson City. March 18, 2010 there will be a City-Wide Community Forum regarding Local Control of the St. Louis Police co-sponsored by Representatives Tishaura Jones and Hope Whitehead. It will be held at the Harris-Stowe State University from 6:00-8:00 p.m. There will be representatives from the Police Officers Association and the Ethical Society as well as members of the general public. I hope you can attend.
I pay for this newsletter from my own funds, so I can feel free to express my political opinions. Please call or e-mail me with your thoughts on improving this newsletter or any issues or concerns.
In This Issue
Falling Revenue Adds More Uncertainty To Budget
House Votes To Speed Up State Income Tax Refunds
Supreme Court Nixes Springfield’s Red-Light Cameras
Special Edition-DWI Legislatioin
Falling Revenue Adds More Uncertainty To Budget
Net state general revenue collections dropped by 14.6 percent in February 2010 compared to February 2009, putting year-to-date collections for FY 2010 12.7 percent, or about $710 million, behind collections at the same point in FY 2009. As a result Gov. Jay Nixon is expected to make another round of midyear spending cuts on top of the $760 million in reductions he’s made since the current fiscal year began on July 1, 2009.
The continuing decline in revenues also places in doubt the revenue estimate for FY 2011 that the Republican budget chairmen in the House and Senate and Nixon agreed on in January. Although a revised estimate hasn’t yet been finalized, significant additional spending cuts are expected for the upcoming fiscal year.
Despite the news, House Budget Committee Chairman Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, on March 3 submitted an FY 2011 spending plan that includes $300 million that he admits the state likely won’t receive. Icet’s budget allocates some of the money to provide the $105 million needed to fully fund the formula for distributing state aid to local public schools. Nixon’s budget plan called for an $18 million increase in the formula.
House Votes To Speed Up State Income Tax Refunds
The Missouri House of Representatives on Thursday voted 150-0 in favor of legislation that would require the state to issue state income tax refunds within 45 days of the annual April 15 tax filing deadline. Under existing law, the state has 120 days from the deadline to issue refund checks.
For taxpayers who file their state returns late, the 45-day deadline would be measured from when a return is postmarked. The bill, HB 1408, now advances to the Senate.
Supreme Court Nixes Springfield’s Red-Light Cameras
The Missouri Supreme Court on March 2 unanimously struck down Springfield’s red-light camera ordinance, ruling that the city used an illegal administrative hearing procedure to process tickets. The city suspended its use of red-light cameras within hours of the court’s ruling, according to The Associated Press, and will dismissing all pending cases.
Springfield’s ordinance established an administrative procedure for reviewing challenges to red-light camera citations instead of processing them through municipal court, which has a higher burden of proof. The Supreme Court ruled that such cases must be pursued in municipal court since state law doesn’t allow cities to handle alleged ordinance violations administratively.
The court’s decision would only apply to red-light camera ordinances in other cities that prosecute violations administratively. It was not immediately clear if any other Missouri city has established a similar procedure. The case is City of Springfield v. Adolph Belt Jr.
Special Edition-DWI Legislation
Just a quick note, next week I will be putting together a special edition report dealing solely with the proposed DWI Reform Legislation.
It is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of the 67th District in the House of Representatives. If you have any issue or concern, please don’t hesitate to contact me and feel free to forward this update to friends, family, and colleagues. Working together with your opinions and input will help me be a better legislator for our community.
Sincerely,
Mike Colona
Missouri House of Representatives
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