Missouri House members are proposing a statewide bond issue they say could launch a building boom across the Show-Me State.
House Speaker Tim Jones (R, Eureka) has created a special committee to examine several bonding proposals that could fund new buildings, repairs and upgrades on state property and college campuses. The effort is bipartisan, as the Republican speaker has appointed Democrat Chris Kelly of Columbia to chair the committee. Kelly says the proposal can be done without raising taxes, unless transportation needs are included.
“The Speaker has instructed us to try to find a way to deal with the transportation issues," Kelly said. "We don’t have all the answers for him yet, but working with the committee members, we’re gonna try to find the answers and try to fit these two things together appropriately.”
Neither Kelly nor Jones provided a dollar figure for how much their proposal might cost. Meanwhile, a proposal in the Missouri Senate would create a $950 million bond issue for state buildings, college campuses and parks, but would not include transportation. Both measures would require approval by Missouri voters.
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