Voters Decide on Important Issues

Voters will be headed to the polls on Tuesday, November 8, to vote on several candidates and issues on the ballots. Local elections have a greater affect on peoples’ lives than national elections, and that’s why it’s important for voters to research candidates and ballot issues.

Clay County voters can find poll information and sample ballots on the Board of Election Commissioners website at VoteClayCountyMo.gov. Here’s a breakdown of the issues that will be on the ballot for Kearney voters:

Amendment 1

Voters are asked to decide Amendment 1 which will allow the General Assembly to override the current constitutional restrictions of state investments by the state treasurer; and allow state investments in municipal securities possessing one of the top five highest long-term ratings or the highest short-term rating

According to Ballotpedia.org, “A 'yes' vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to grant the General Assembly statutory authority to invest state funds and expand the state treasurer's investment options.” This would state lawmakers to make those decisions instead of a vote by the people.

Currently the Constitution limits the state treasurer’s investment options and he or she must hold a vote from the general public to change the use of state money.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft came out against the amendment because it takes the decision of investments away from the people, “who are supposed to be in charge.” State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick supports the measure, and he pushed to add the amendment to the ballot to help to invest the COVID-19 money the state has received.

Amendment 3

Constitutional Amendment 3, If passed it would change the Missouri Constitution to allow people 21 and older to buy and grow it for personal consumption as early as this year.

Marijuana sales would also be taxed at 6% under the constitutional amendment. The tax is estimated to bring in more than $46 million during the first year and close to $70 million the following year. Revenues would be earmarked for veterans’ homes, drug treatment programs and public defenders.

In spite of the potential tax money, the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys published a paper that cites many issues with the proposed constitutional amendment including causing an increase in traffic deaths involving driving while impaired, increase in suicides of people under the influence, the penalties for violation of the amendment are civil penalties which prosecutors do not deal with, and health concerns and spikes in crime rates.

Amendment 4

Amendment 4 would allow the General Assembly to increase minimum required funding for a police force established by a state board of police commissioners before 2027. Locally, this applies to the Kansas City, Missouri police department so the city will increase the minimum funding to ensure the police department has resources to serve its people.

Those in opposition of this amendment believe that state legislature should not dictate how local government should allocate its resources. Those for the amendment say defunding the police department would be detrimental because when Kansas City police officers are all occupied, other agencies like the Clay County Sheriff’s Office would respond. This would take away resources in rural areas of the county or assistance to smaller communities.

Amendment 5

Amendment 5 asks voters if the Missouri National Guard should be its own agency rather than part of the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

According Ballotpedia.org, this would allow the National Guard to, “become its own department [and] would provide a direct line of communication between the adjutant general to the Governor.” The adjutant general would answer directly to the Governor.

Missouri Constitutional Convention

According to Balotpedia.org, “In Missouri, a state constitutional convention question is provided to voters every 20 years after the prior question. Missourians addressed a constitutional convention question in 2002. A constitutional convention consists of elected delegates that propose changes to the state's constitution. Any proposed changes, including a rewritten constitution, must be approved by voters.”

If passed, the Governor would call an election of delegates to serve at a convention for the purpose of revising or amending the Missouri Constitution. Any revisions or amendments will then be put to a vote of the people for their consideration. If the measure doesn’t pass, no constitutional convention will be held.

Clay County Proposition A

Proposition A will let voters decide whether the county will drop the commercial property surtax. The commercial surtax is currently $1.59 per $100.00 assessed valuation. Approval of the measure would reduce it by 15 cents to $1.44 per $100.00 assessed valuation.

Those opposed to the measure say cutting the business surtax will cut funding to much needed local services like emergency agencies and school districts. Those who are for reducing the surtax say the surtax is an extra tax on commercial property and by reducing it, it gives relieve to small business property owners.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story