News from Jefferson City

A significant difference between the budget versions passed by the Senate and House will result in a conference committee to work out the differences.  The Missouri Senate budget which was approved exceeded the House version by over $1 billion dollars and included an additional $31 million for teacher salaries.  The Senate version also fully funded the transportation formula for schools.  That amount has gone from 75% to 15% in recent years.

Two weeks remain in the legislative session.

Local Political News

The Independence City Council will hold their first regular meeting for May on the 2nd.  The agenda item that will get the most attention relates to approvals for the Eastgate Commerce Center project being proposed by Northpoint Development.  The project is estimated to be just over $850 million dollars of capital investment over the next 10 years.  Council will be considering approval for a change to the comprehensive plan as well as zoning changes which would allow the project to move forward.  On a related note, Northpoint presented to the Economic Development Incentives Committee (EDIC) on Wednesday night a proposal to create a Community Improvement District (CID) which would help fund public infrastructure related to the project.  The CID would add a 1% sales tax for taxable sales within the district as well as place a special assessment of 5 cents per square foot of occupied space.  The EDIC voted unanimously to recommended approval of the CID and it will now go forward to the City Council for final approval.