As the November election draws closer, there are several amendments and propositions to be considered by the voters of Missouri.
Proposition A deals with minimum wage for workers in Missouri.
Do you want to amend Missouri law to:
-Increase minimum wage January 1, 2025 to $13.75 per hour, increasing $1.25 per hour each year until 2026, when the minimum wage would be $15.00 per hour;
-Adjust minimum wage based on changes in the Consumer Price Index each January beginning in 2027;
-Require all employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every thirty hours worked;
-Allow the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to provide oversight and enforcement; and
-Exempt governmental entities, political subdivisions, school districts and education institutions?
State governmental entities estimate one-time costs ranging from $0 to $53,000, and ongoing costs ranging from $0 to at least $256,000 per year by 2027. State and local government tax revenue could change by an unknown annual amount depending on business decisions.
A “yes” vote will amend Missouri statutes to increase the state minimum wage beginning January 1, 2025 to $13.75 per hour and increase the hourly rate $1.25, to $15.00 per hour beginning January 2026. Annually the minimum wage will be adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index. The law will require employers with fifteen or more employees to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every thirty hours worked. The amendment will exempt governmental entities, political subdivisions, school districts and education institutions from the minimum wage increase.
A “no” vote will not amend Missouri law to make changes to the state minimum wage law.
If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.
A Pizza Hut shift manager who preferred to not share her name said that while an increase would be good for employees, the cost would mean an increase in the price of their products.
“This would be a decision for our owners in Blue Springs,” she said. “But an increase in minimum wage makes it harder for small businesses to keep up.”
Cooks at Pizza Hut make $12.40 per hour with increases for those who have been employees longer. Pizza drivers make $12.30 per hour and servers make $6.15 per hour plus tips.
Dustin Decker, manager of Sonic, did not want to comment on the Amendment. Starting salary at Sonic is $12 per hour.
Amendment 1 deals with child care and tax exemption.
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to allow places where individuals, corporations, organizations, and associations provide childcare outside of the child’s home to be exempt from property tax? This is intended to make childcare more available, which would support the well-being of children, families, the workforce, and society as a whole.
State governmental entities estimate the state’s Blind Pension Fund could have annual lost revenue of up to $400,000. Local governments expect an unknown fiscal impact.
A "yes" vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to grant the General Assembly statutory authority to exempt all property, real and personal, used primarily for the care of a child outside of his or her home by general law. An assessing authority may be authorized by general law to exempt from the assessment, levy, and collection of taxes such portion of the property of such individual, corporation, organization, or association that is used primarily for such childcare.
A "no" vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution and childcare facilities will continue to be assessed, levied, and pay taxes.
If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.
Shelby Sloan, day care operator of Shelby’s Play and Learn, is in favor of the tax exemption for child care facilities.
“We have 60 children in our day care facility and we have a waiting list as well,” said Sloan. “The property tax exemption is a good idea but it won’t affect our business since we rent the facility from Paul (Rick) Fajen.”
Shelby’s Play and Learn has 13 employees and pays $800 a month to rent the facility.
Amendment 4 deals with funding for the police force.
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to authorize laws, passed before December 31st, 2026, that increase minimum funding for a police force established by a state board of police commissioners to ensure such police force has additional resources to serve its communities?
This would authorize a law passed in 2022 increasing required funding by the City of Kansas City for police department requests from 20% of general revenue to 25%, an increase of $38,743,646, though the City previously provided that level of funding voluntarily. No other state or local governmental entities estimate costs or savings.
A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to allow the general assembly by law to increase the minimum funding for a police force established by the state board of police commissioners to ensure such police force has additional resources to serve its communities. Currently the only police force established by the state board of police commissioners is found in Kansas City, Missouri.
A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution regarding the funding for a police force established by the state board of police commissioners.
If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.
These issues and much more will be decided on the November 5 ballot.
