Jackson County residents are deciding today if they’ll continue their quarter-cent sales tax that raises money to fight drug use and production. The tax produces $15-Million to $20-Million a year, which go to about 80 agencies in the county. Opponents say the tax should expire because there’s no evidence that it is doing any good. It’s the only county in the state with such a tax.
School Districts Preparing For Lawsuit Against State Over Funding
August 5, 2003 By
Some of Missouri’s bigger school districts have signed on to the list of those about to sue the state about school funding. Almost one-third of the school districts are joining the lawsuit which will charge the present funding formula is unconstitutional. The present system has been in place for ten years.
Skelton Calls For Help From Other Countries In Rebuilding Iraq
August 5, 2003 By
The ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee is suggesting the United States get some help from other countries in the effort to win the peace in Iraq. West-central Missouri Congressman Ike Skelton says several nations are standing by to provide assistance, but they want to be sent by the United Nations. Skelton says the U.S. should ask the United Nations or NATO or both for a resolution calling on member nations to send a force to Iraq to help restore electricity, telephone service, running water, and the like.
Budget Cuts Hurt Ability Of State Crime Lab To Process Evidence
August 5, 2003 By
The wheels of justice are slowing down in Missouri – one reason is because the state is reducing the ability of its crime lab to process evidence. It’s a chronic problem for the state crime lab, which proceesses evidence from tens of thousands of cases every year. Lab director Bill Marbaker and his 60 employees handle evidence from about 20,000 cases a year – about 60 percent of them methamphetamine cases. Last year, 20 percent of the operating budget was withheld. This year, 15 percent of the core budget has just been eliminated. Marbaker says he could use 20 more people to turn around drug cases in one two two weeks and to complete toxicology cases in two to four weeks. But, he has trouble hanging onto the people he already has. Marbaker says Missouri’s salaries are about 30 percent below salaries his workers can earn in other states or in private industry.
Missouri Quarter To Be Officially Unveiled On Weekend
August 5, 2003 By
The new Missouri quarter is being sent to Federal Reserve Banks across the country and will be in the hands of the public this weekend. First Lady Lori Hauser Holden, who helped run the design competition, says a lot of people participated in an Internet-based vote to choose the winning design. However, the coin design that was the overwhelming choice was changed by the U.S. Mint. The coin’s designer, Columbia artist Paul Jackson caused so much ruckus over the change, the Mint now only accepts written descriptions for future state quarter designs. Holden points out any controversy was between Jackson and the Mint.
