To the Editor:

On August 6, 2024 there will be a “Special Election” to vote on two Amendments to the Missouri Constitution that have been proposed by the Missouri General Assembly in Jefferson City. The “Primary Election” for Democrat and Republican Party candidates seeking to be on the November 5,2024 occurs at the same time.

I encourage a NO vote on both proposed Constitutional Amendment 1 and proposed Constitutional Amendment 4.

Constitutional Amendment #1 would “allow places where individuals, corporations, organizations , and associations provide childcare outside of the child’s home to be exempt from property tax.”

Of course, we need good, affordable childcare providers in our communities. It may sound like a great idea to support “Childcare” availability by giving childcare providers a tax break. Unfortunately, as written, this tax cut would benefit large “for profit” childcare businesses while decreasing the property tax base that our communities depend on to fund law enforcement, schools, city administration and key local services. Additionally, it is estimated that the state’s blind Pension Fund could have annual lost revenues of up to $400,000. Missouri can and should come up with better ideas to support local home and small business childcare providers. Vote NO to support a tax base that supports local governmental programs in our communities.

Constitutional Amendment #4 mandates that Kansas City spend 25% of its general revenue to fund its police department.

This is an increase in the mandate from 20%. Please note that Kansas City already spends 25% of general revenue on the police department. There is a long complicated history here. As I understand it, the Kansas City Police has been controlled by a Board of Police Commissioners appointed by the governor since 1939. It is the only police department under such state control. Legislators in Jefferson City in 2021 got upset that the Kansas City Council decided to designate a portion of the police budget to community and intervention programs to reduce crime and apparently thought they knew better how to manage the budget of the Kansas City police. I believe this is a governmental overreach. The Missouri General Assembly has demonstrated that it has enough trouble figuring out how to manage our state's budget for the benefit of Missouri citizens. Vote No to support local control in Kansas City.

Hope Tinker

Fayette, Mo.