I hate to say ‘I told you so,’ …but

Voters in Missouri passed Amendment 3 a few years ago. At the time, I spoke against the issue and I wrote articles expressing my concern. I lost; I was one of the few people in the state against it.
Recently, I was also outspoken about the resulting causes and effects because of the upcoming payment requirements for the bonding programs resulting from new road construction. Please let me share a little further frustration about other unintended consequences which are a little complex, but I’ll try to be brief about it.
Secondary roads in the area are in terrible condition. Area school superintendents are making daily decisions to run buses on “hard surfaced roads only.” Some of them are calling my office looking for funding help on behalf of counties, cities and townships to improve conditions of secondary bus routes.
Those respective local units of government are also contacting me and are constantly discussing the issue with their counterparts at association meetings. Even though they need more money for gravel, they are getting less because of Amendment Three.
The conditions associated with this long and severe winter have and are continuing to aggravate the situation.
My analogy in Budget committee was that our roads are about like making coffee. The gravel and dirt surfaces are like the coffee “grounds.” Moisture not only from precipitation, but coupled with the condensation from constant “freezing and thawing” adds the “water” and finally traffic on the road equates to a “stirring action.” Some people might make “cowboy coffee” with better consistency than the top of local gravel roads.
Now let’s make the connection to “Amendment 3.” That constitutional amendment included language allowing Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) to exercise a “collection fee” of up to 3% for services involved in collecting certain taxes and fees which benefit highway funds. Counties and Cities Aid Road Tax (CART) funds provide for the majority of gravel (CART Rock) for our local units of government.
I’m sure you’ve guessed the bottom line, which is that, as a result of Amendment 3, the DOR is withholding portions of certain taxes and fees that had earlier supported these programs.
Taxes include 10% for county and 15% for city from state fuel tax, sales taxes on cars and trucks, other fees, etc. collected from state “fee offices.”
The DOR has made the problem worse because they did not originally make the withholdings, but are now prorating previous year allotments along with, and in addition to, current “collection fees.” Trust me when I say this is a significant impact to local road plans, especially with this season’s weather conditions.
My frustration is heightened in that there are 24 State Representatives who serve on our House Budget Committee and I was the only one concerned enough to address this issue with DOR in our current budgeting process? Apparently, many of the other legislative districts don’t inform their respective legislators about these needs and that’s hard for me to understand.

I haven’t given up on the issue and am trying to make a small adjustment through the amendment process, but it still takes one over half of us in government to completely change the direction we are headed.
If you have any questions, concerns or opinions about this issue or any other issue, please feel free to contact Pam in Jefferson City. Our number there is 573-751-1649 and the email address is [email protected]. You can also contact me at the district at 660-359-3988.