Bill Would Reduce Compensation.

The City Council will hear the first reading of a Council bill that would reduce compensation for Council members at their regular meeting this evening in City Hall at 7:30 p.m.

Members currently receive $75 per month in expenses and according to City code don’t have to account for expenditures. The City has been complying with IRS regulations that require a 1099 form to be issued for any individual that receives more than $600 in a given year, but was recently informed that the IRS would prefer the compensation be considered salary.

The City Charter does not allow Council members to receive a salary, but does allow for an amount to be set by the Council for expenses. In order to comply with the IRS and consider the compensation as salary, the City Charter would have to be amended.

The Budget/Ways and Means Committee has recommended that the Council reduce the compensation for expenses to $50 per month to avoid the cost of a Charter amendment and keep the annual total under the amount that triggers the IRS question.

REDUCING THE TAX BURDEN.

by Steve Hunter
State Representative District 127

The 2002 legislative session is in full swing and House Republicans have again included tax relief for Missouri’s working families as a priority issue. Along with legislation aimed at solving our state’s education failures and providing election reform, House Republicans have proposed legislation that will provide Missourians with needed relief from outrageous property tax reassessment increases. However, the Speaker of the House has been unwilling to commit to a House vote on this issue.

Legislation introduced by House Republicans will provide a solution to outrageous property tax reassessments by placing a cap on reassessment increases. Under the legislation, reassessment increases would be limited to the lesser of 5% or the Consumer Price Index on property that has not been subject to new construction or improvements. This will ensure that no one is faced with exorbitant reassessment increases because of new construction or property improvements made by neighboring residents or businesses.

This legislation would also provide needed relief for our senior citizens by freezing property tax rates at their current level for those over the age of 65 that have owned the assessed property for more than five years. Seniors should not be forced to choose between paying their property taxes or affording their prescription drugs. Without relief from burdensome reassessment increases, many of our seniors will be faced with this choice.

Under this bill, county assessors will also be prohibited from merely driving by a constituent’s home and considering it a properly conducted inspection. In some areas of our state, it has been found that thousands of assessments were conducted within a few days because the assessor used drive-by inspections to determine increases in property values. These drive-by inspections fail to provide the assessor with enough information to accurately assess property values and artificially inflate reassessments. Proponents of prohibitions on drive-by assessments argue that county assessors are currently able to increase tax rates at will, without regard to the actual value of the property being assessed.

This legislative proposal will strengthen a property owner’s ability to ensure that reassessment increases are accurate in a number of ways. First, it will lower the threshold reassessment increase that triggers a required physical inspection of the property. Second, it provides taxpayers the ability to request an inspection of the interior of the property if the physical inspection requirement is triggered. Finally, this legislation shifts the burden of proof for reassessment appeals back to the assessor, where it should always have been, and guarantees that no one is ignored or mistreated because they feel their property tax increase is excessive.

As usual, I can be reached at (573) 751-5458 or at Room 103 B-B, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, or by email at shunter@services.state.mo.us if you have any questions or comments.

Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin
State Representative, District 126

First, a little unfinished business: The student senate at the University of Missouri has re-voted on the resolution to support the troops in Afghanistan. As you might remember, earlier the students refused to support a student resolution supporting our troops. This came on the heels of a liberal, left wing whacko professor named Stacy Woelfel refusing to allow his students to wear patriotic ribbons at the Journalism School at the University. I don’t know what caused the student senate to rethink their actions, but I am glad they did. Now maybe the president and chancellor of the university will rethink their positions. They have refused to take any action against the anti American actions of professor Woelfel.

As we finish the first full week of Session, things are starting to get back to full swing. Committees are meeting, one bill has already been debated on the Floor and those of us that are running for higher office have begun the political posturing that will likely be in large abundance from now until November.

The Speaker of the House, Jim Kreider (D-Nixa) appears to have set the tone for the upcoming Session. Ever since I have been a member of the House of Representatives, the democrats have been in control of the chamber. As such, they have constantly refused to let republican legislation be considered.

This year, at the joint press conference, our minority leader asked Speaker Kreider if he would commit to allowing three bills to come to the Floor for debate and a straight up or down vote. The three bills were; property tax relief, especially for senior citizens, state income tax reform, including restoring full deductibility of federal income tax from state income, and election reform. To most reasonable people these are bills that should be no-brainers. Speaker Kreider refused to give his commitment that these bills would even receive consideration. Seems like a poor way to start the Session.

As usual, I can be reached at House Post Office, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, or 1-800-878-7126, or mhohulin@services.state.mo.us for your questions, comments, or advice.

Havin’ an older brother was a handy thing. He broke ground and established precedents that made me the natural beneficiary.

He fought the battle of bein’ allowed to put baby moon hubcaps on the family car long before I was behind the wheel. Seems there were some weeks when they were on only durin’ the weekend, but eventually they became standard equipment along with the dice hangin’ from the mirror.

I can’t remember if baby moons were still in style by the time I was drivin’, but the ability to make minor adjustments to the vehicle was established.

My brother soon discovered that decal in the window of the woodpecker with a cigar in its mouth was the absolute limit to his freedom to decorate. I was careful to avoid pushin’ that idea any further.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

Health Notes

by Judith Sheldon

From Fern in New Jersey: "I have three questions about diet and exercise which I hope you can answer. First, is it better to exercise before or after a meal? Second, can you control your weight just by exercise and not by dieting? Third, how much weight can you gain as you get older and still remain in the safety zone?"

Answer: It’s better to exercise shortly before you eat. This raises your metabolism and helps burn calories more efficiently.

To lose unwanted pounds, you need to combine a regimen of dieting and exercise. After you’ve reached your desired weight goal, you should continue your exercise programs so that you can maintain muscle which, in turn, helps the body burn fat.

If your doctor approves, you can ease up on the more restrictive diet associated with weight loss. But don’t return to your previous eating habits or you’ll see those pounds creeping back even if you continue exercising.

As for your third question, the federal government’s health watchdogs tell us that weight gain in later life is discouraged. While it was once assumed that you could safely take on a few pounds as you got older, studies show people do better when they don’t put on a middle-age spread.