YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
Springfield City Council last night unanimously passed a resolution to adopt the municipality’s 2019 legislative priorities.
The resolution sets the stage for the city’s advocacy efforts with state and federal legislators, according to a news release.
“City Council is concerned with the legislative matters at the state and federal levels, which have an impact on our governmental operations locally,” Mayor Ken McClure said in the release. “At our retreat in early November, council identified a number of important legislative items that may be considered on the federal and state levels in the upcoming year. Adoption of these priorities empowers city officials, staff and representatives to advocate on the city’s behalf, before and to members of the federal and state legislative bodies.”
The resolution’s core priorities are to:
• strengthen Springfield’s economic vitality through legislation that supports education, workforce development, natural environment protections, broadband access and transportation;
• promote fiscal sustainability via support for ethics reform, a statewide tobacco tax and Medicaid reform;
• avoid unfunded mandates that would cause Springfield taxpayers to take on new costs;
• increase public safety through funding, scrap metal reporting, seat belt requirements, immunizations and the creation of a national health emergency fund; and
• retain local control by opposing legislation that reduces the city’s authority, including for user and license fees.
Other priorities include the passage of an internet sales tax meant to allow local retailers to better compete with online businesses, an increase in the hotel/motel tax, the implementation of a statewide prescription drug monitoring program, and clarity on chronic nuisance property issues, according to the release.
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