HCS SS SCS SB 825 -- KANSAS AND MISSOURI REGIONAL INVESTMENT
DISTRICT COMPACT

SPONSOR:  Koster (Pearce)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Job
Creation and Economic Development by a vote of 18 to 0.

This substitute establishes the Regional Investment District
Compact between the states of Missouri and Kansas to provide
regional programs and initiatives that will produce significant
benefits to the Kansas City metropolitan area by efficiently
using resources regarding public transportation.

The legislatures of Kansas and Missouri must both enter into the
compact.  The compact will include the counties of Buchanan,
Clay, Platte, Jackson, Cass, and Ray in Missouri and the counties
of Wyandotte, Johnson, and Leavenworth in Kansas.  Other cities,
counties, and political subdivisions can join the compact.

The substitute:

(1)  Specifies the membership, duties, and powers of the
commission which will govern the regional investment district and
the oversight committee;

(2)  Specifies the purposes for which tax revenue may be spent;

(3)  Specifies the requirements of the program plan, which
describes the regional program and authorizes the appropriation
of revenue received from the sales tax authorized by the compact;

(4)  Authorizes the governing body of each participating county
to levy a sales tax, upon voter approval, of up to 0.5%.  The
sales tax cannot be in effect for more than 15 years unless it is
reviewed by the qualified electors of the county prior to its
expiration.  However, before this sales tax can be levied in any
county, it must first receive voter approval in Jackson County,
Missouri, and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas;

(5)  Specifies the form which the ballot questions must take;

(6)  Requires the commission to submit an annual report on its
operations and transactions during the preceding year to the
legislatures and governors of Missouri and Kansas and the
governing bodies of all jurisdictions that participate in the
compact.  The report must be submitted by March 15 and must
include an audit performed by a certified or licensed public
accountant;

(7)  Prohibits the commission and the committee from incurring
debt of any kind or from pledging the credit of the Mid-America
Regional Council, the State of Missouri, the State of Kansas, or
any other jurisdiction that is a party to the council's articles
of agreement;

(8)  Establishes the Regional Investment Fund in the State
Treasury.  All sales tax revenue collected by participating
counties will be collected by the Department of Revenue and
deposited into the fund;

(9)  Prohibits revenue from the sales tax from being allocated to
any tax increment financing projects; and

(10)  Allows Missouri counties to participate in the compact if,
by July 1, 2007, Kansas has not authorized its counties to
participate.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Income on General Revenue Fund of $0 or
Unknown in FY 2007, FY 2008, and FY 2009.  No impact on Other
State Funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill is critical for
improving public transportation needs in the Kansas City
metropolitan area.  It simply draws the boundaries for the
bi-state transportation district.  There is already broad public
support for this compact.  Improved public transportation is
necessary so that citizens can have access to job opportunities.
Good public transportation is economical and efficient because it
ensures the smooth movement of people and goods while saving fuel
and money.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Koster; City of Kansas City;
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce; Department of
Transportation; Missouri Public Transit Association; Jackson
County; Cass County; Mid-America Regional Council; Kansas City
Regional Transit Alliance; and Kansas City Area Transportation
Authority.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Alice Hurley, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:46 am