Governmental Things One Should Be Able to Do Online
Over at the Freakonomics blog, they’re discussing a website focused on getting the U.S. Census to be made available online,...
“Rightsizing State Government”
I stole the title for this blog entry from Gov. Jay Nixon’s speech the other day. I haven’t discussed it sooner,...
Saint Louis County Creatively Circumvents Taxpayer Vote
Saint Louis County is using stimulus funds to get around the results of the Nov. 2008 election, when a $120...
Forum on Proposed Metro Bus and Light Rail Tax in St. Louis County
I’d just like to quickly promote the upcoming forum/debate on the proposed half-cent Metro tax for buses and light rail...
Frankly, I’m Not Seeing the Downside Here
From KMOX: The Missouri House Budget Committee was told two Missouri prisons could close down if the House cuts funds...
One District’s Competition Is Another District’s Poaching
A member of a school board in Madison, Wis., has noticed that it pays for districts to set up online...
Adding New MetroLink Lines Too Costly, Inefficient
It is odd to hear serious discussion of expanding MetroLink when the Metro system faces a $50 million shortfall and...
Ridiculous Licensing Proposal in St. Louis
You knew this was going to happen sooner or later. Ten years ago, when HVAC contractors in St. Louis County...
More on the Proposed Tax Increase for Farmers
I really liked this piece by Sen. Jason Crowell in the Southeast Missourian about the proposed property tax increase in...
Jackson Co. Hopes to KO TIF in KCMO
All right, so the title of this post is a bit misleading — I just wanted to get as many...
Is There Such a Thing as a “Utility Player” in Government Service?
I don’t know the answer, but there certainly could be. For those of you — including our intrepid editor —...
Columbia School Reluctant to Open More Single-Sex Classes
Field Elementary in Columbia offers optional single-sex classes, as does Carmen Trails Elementary in St. Louis county. But, unlike Carmen...
Should Farmers Pay More Property Taxes?
Last week, the State Tax Commission proposed a plan that would change the levels of taxation for Missouri farmland. Combest...
Live by Political Appointment, Die by Political Appointment
Kansas City’s city manager, Wayne Cauthen, is out of a job after a majority of the KC City Council surprisingly...
Fire Districts Are About as Confusing as It Gets in Local Government
I recall several years ago when the Post-Dispatch ran a great series about abuses in fire districts around St. Louis...
Large Counties Should Reduce Their Commercial Property Tax Surcharges
In 1985, Missouri changed the way that local governments tax commercial and industrial property. Voters approved eliminating the personal property...
Florissant, Pay Cuts, and Golf Courses
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting on the budget troubles in Florissant, the largest city in St. Louis County. Not...
Next Week’s Election Issues
Voters in Saint Louis County and Jackson County have some tax and smoking proposals on the ballot Tuesday. Most of...
Chicago Thinks About Privatizing Its Water System
According to a little-known website, the Drudge Report, Chicago is considering privatizing its water utility. This would follow on the...
Springfield Still Has Those Pension Blues
With a vote looming in two weeks, there are still a number of unresolved issues about the Springfield pension system....
