Following several pointed and sarcastic remarks from a public speaker at the Nov. 18 Springfield City Council meeting, the legislative body came to a near consensus after airing views about the role of government to approve its 2014 legislative priorities.
Springfield resident Billy Talty was the only member of the public who spoke to the priorities that comprised advocating for nine pieces of legislation, supporting two broad positions and promoting issues in five general areas. He opposed the resolution council passed 8-1, suggesting a flurry of amendments that called for more transparency and accountability from city leaders.
Councilman Doug Burlison cast the only vote against the resolution.
New legislation sought by council includes:
- adding $10 to citation fees for the purpose of remodeling and maintaining its current municipal court building;
- greater regulation of products used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine;
- allowing the city to expunge the records of individuals convicted of marijuana possession without a related conviction three years prior; and
- eliminating restrictions to increase the number of automated external defibrillators in the community.
Burlison opposed further restrictions on selling products such as pseudoephedrine, which can be used in the production of meth. He also took issue with the city encouraging the state to increase Missouri’s tobacco tax, a priority listed under the general category of public health.
“Not just myself, but a lot of the constituents I represent do not feel that it is the role of government to get people to quit smoking,” Burlison said.
Burlison moved to strike both priorities from the list used to inform local lawmakers of the city’s positions on issues the Community Involvement Committee feels are likely to crop up in the next legislative session. Councilman Craig Hosmer, a former state representative who said he’s paid close attention to the city’s legislative priorities, said there was no good reason to oppose additional tobacco taxes.
“Missouri has got the lowest cigarette tax in the nation – lower than states that produce tobacco. It absolutely makes no sense,” Hosmer said.
According to TaxFoundation.org, the Show-Me State’s excise tax of 17 cents per pack is the lowest in the nation. New York, which taxes at $4.35 per pack, has the highest state tax.
“Missouri should have a higher tax. It would be better for public health. It would be better for state revenues,” Hosmer said.
Under broad positions, according to the approved resolution, the city opposes any bill that would result in a new net cost to the city and/or its residents. Also, it opposes any bill that would reduce local authority.
Its general suggestions for lawmakers include allowing municipalities the latitude to decide whether and how to enforce red-light cameras. Other priorities include supporting tourism funding; adequately funding workforce development programs and public schools; and the development of a clinical campus in Springfield as a partnership with the University of Missouri School of Medicine, CoxHealth and Mercy.
Hotel Vandivort bondsCouncil unanimously approved a 25-year property tax abatement plan for a proposed boutique hotel at 305 E. Walnut St. dubbed Hotel Vandivort. Through MBH LLC, siblings Billy and John McQueary are remodeling the 107-year-old building into a 50-unit hotel, now with the help of Chapter 100 industrial revenue bonds.
The bonds allow for tax abatement on real property and equipment purchases, where the city actually owns the property while the developer repays the bond debt. According to the proposal, the property tax savings would amount to $2.8 million and as much as $3.5 million should the building secure Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certification.
Councilman Hosmer expressed concern prior to his vote that approving the abatement could set an unwelcome precedent because the Vandivort building was coming off a 25-year abatement from the 1980s when it was converted into an office complex.
“If another property owner comes in and says, ‘Our property has been abated for 25 years and now we want to tack on another 25-year abatement,’ are we changing our policy by voting for this?” Hosmer asked City Manager Greg Burris.
Burris said the city did not have a policy addressing that issue but said a committee meeting on the city’s economic development policies was scheduled in December.
John McQueary said after the meeting the $13.4 million redevelopment project hits on two city goals. “At the end of the day, the goals are for there to be a development and for the city to get more tax revenue,” he said. “I think both of those goals have been achieved.”
Springfield Economic Development Director Mary Lilly Smith said the property is projected to have an appraised value of $8.3 million after the 25-year abatement period ends. The 2013 appraised value of the quarter-acre property is listed at $1.3 million, according to Greene County assessor records. Under the agreement, the developers will make payments at current property tax levels for the first 10 years, and payments in lieu of taxes would include an additional 50 percent of the taxable value on new improvements in years 11–25.
