Scoring Methodology
Nine of the twelve possible questions are scored, worth 18 points total. The rest (your city's population classification, charter status, and day-to-day management structure) establish context only. Missouri law permits several legitimate forms of government for each city class, and the reports don't rank those legal choices against each other, so those questions are never penalized.
Scored questions
- Structure (2 pts): governing body size and election method. Villages skip this question and receive automatic full credit, since state law fixes their structure at five trustees elected village-wide, which matches the small, at-large model the research favors.
- Taxation (4 pts): revenue mix, and use of tax subsidies and special districts.
- Zoning (4 pts): parking requirements, and rules on smaller homes and accessory dwelling units.
- Parks (4 pts): funding of specialized recreation facilities, and taxpayer-funded fitness centers.
- Public Health and Sanitation (4 pts): how trash collection is provided, and how the city treats food trucks and small food vendors.
Point values
- 2 points: matches the specific practice recommended in that report section.
- 1 point: a common, middle-ground Missouri practice. "Not sure" also receives 1 point, so uncertainty about your city's policies isn't penalized.
- 0 points: the practice the report specifically cautions against.
Grade thresholds
- A, Free-Market Standout: 85% or higher (16 to 18 points)
- B, On the Right Track: 60% to 84% (11 to 15 points)
- C, Mixed Scorecard: 35% to 59% (7 to 10 points)
- D, Reform Opportunity: below 35% (0 to 6 points)
The research findings, figures, and recommendations behind every question come directly from the four Free-Market Guide reports. The specific point values and grade cutoffs are the Show-Me Institute's own editorial framework for turning those recommendations into a quick scorecard. They are not a formula stated in the reports themselves, and this scorecard is educational rather than an official or precise assessment of any municipality.