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Missouri legislators
CONSUMPTION
Twin Lakes trail
INCOME TAX are debating whether
replacing the income
tax with a higher
TAX reapproved by
Pay UP T
O 6%
sales tax would
be an economic Pay 5.11%
on
City Council
on stimulus or a A new hearing was cern about the routing in a

* ALL PURCHASES* needed because of a

2006 public hearing, but over-
$40,178 high-risk roll of change in the route.
all the process has been rela-
tively noncontroversial, Parks
*Some exemption
edian s apply. and Recreation Director Mike

e h o ld
bia’s m
*Colum ome, accordin
inc
u re a u .
g
the dice. Families would rec
monthly “prebat
eive
e” checks
By Jacob Barker
news@ColumbiaMissourian.com
Hood said in an interview.
“We have been working on
hous Census
B
to cover some co There was nothing but sup-
to the sts. this project for several years
port at the City Council meet- and have met with most of the
ing Monday night for a planned property owners,” he said.
trail from the Twin Lakes The trail’s construction

Columbia representative
Recreation Area to an existing
trailhead just north of Stadium
Boulevard.
After almost three years of
planning, the council unani-
would require nine easements,
Hood added, but the majority
of the trail would cross three
properties with owners who
have shown a willingness to

champions tax reform

mously approved plans for the work with the city.
County House Branch Trail Since the last public hear-
and authorized the city to solic- ing in October 2008, when the
it bids for its construction as council also approved land
well as acquire easements on acquisition for the trail and
some private property the trail the project’s construction,
will pass through. slight changes were made to
By SPENCER WILLEMS • news@ColumbiaMissourian.com “I’ve heard nothing but sup- the trail’s planned route along
Increasing frustration over Missouri’s 90- “It’s done for this year. … It won’t make port, and people looking for- County House Branch. Since
year-old income tax has prompted legisla- More online it out of the Senate,” Kelly said a few days ward to the project,” Fourth
Ward Councilman Jerry Wade
the project is federally funded,
another public hearing was
tors to begin pushing an alternative that to before this year’s session of the General
date has been little more than a fringe issue For more about the “fair tax” and Assembly ended. “The votes for it just aren’t said at the meeting. held Monday to ensure it com-
on the national political scene. there.” Monday was the third public plied with federal regulations.
its implementation nationwide,
Although the proposal to let voters decide go to ColumbiaMissourian.com. Emery said the legislation might be dead hearing on the roughly one- Hood said he hopes the project
whether to replace the state income tax with for now but that the idea is alive and well. mile-long, $775,000 trail fund- will be ready to bid out this
a sales tax on all goods and services died ed by the federal grant for non- fall.
in the Senate this year, it gained more traction than ever Kelly, Robb unlikely allies motorized transportation proj- Jay Dow, a resident who lives
before, and advocates say they’ll push even harder for the Months after narrowly beating former Republican Rep. Ed ects. Residents whose property near the proposed trail, voiced
legislation next year. Robb in November, Kelly wasted no time filing legislation the trail would pass through his support for the project Mon-
One of those advocates is state Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Colum- that his former opponent had spent two years trying to enact. had initially voiced some con- Please see TRAIL, page 4A
bia. The House Committee on Tax Reform met March 15 to

Boone County Jail

In mid-January, Kelly filed House Bill 318, which called hear proposed consumption taxes from both Emery and
for a constitutional amendment that would let voters decide Kelly. Robb, too, testified before the committee.
whether to end income tax effective Jan. 1, 2012. Kelly concedes the idea has its flaws. He thinks that
Excited, right? Hold on. The bill also calls for replacing the Missourians will have to pay more than the proposed 5.11

population lower
income tax with a sales tax on all goods and services. percent. He thinks the plan’s “prebates,” which would allow
Kelly, who served in the legislature in the 1980s and ’90s monthly tax refunds to offset the increased costs of living,
and was elected again in November, joined state Rep. Ed will need greater attention. He admits that a higher sales tax
Emery, R-Lamar, and other Republicans in the push for what might encourage Missourians to make more Internet pur-

than in past years

many advocates call the “fair tax.” Also known as a con- chases and “border jumping” trips for big-ticket items. But
sumption tax, the concept is simple: Instead of paying taxes he still thinks it’s the right thing to do.
based on how much money you earn, you pay taxes based on “There is no such thing as perfect policy,” Kelly said. “But
how much you spend. what we’re talking about is a matter of degree and not a mat-
Kelly explained his support for an idea that’s typically ter of absolute right or absolute wrong.”
deemed conservative. Kelly sees his support of a consumption tax as a continu-
ation of the 11 years he spent trying to remove sales tax
Fewer incarcerations 180. In 2008, the average daily
inmate population was 224. That
“There are issues about which different parties are cor-
rect,” Kelly said. “Democrats are right about education. exemptions. He likes the consumption tax because he says it save county funds. number has been as low as 165
Republicans, I believe, are right about this sales tax.” is “efficient and universal.” He sees the current tax code as By MEGAN WIEGAND in 1996 and as high as 228 in
According to figures from the Missouri Department of riddled with exemptions and favors for the very wealthy and news@ColumbiaMissourian.com 2004, according to Sheriff’s
Revenue, Missouri currently collects two-thirds, or a whop- the very powerful. Warren Brewer, the Boone Department statistics.
ping $5.4 billion, of its general revenue of a little more than “If you own a big boat, I mean a big boat, I mean you’re a County Sheriff’s Department Brewer and Boone County
$8.2 billion from the state’s individual income tax. The state’s party dog … you can get your boat exempted from the sales jail administrator, said it’s “like Circuit Judge Christine Car-
sales and use taxes already account for 23 percent, or almost tax by effectively donating your boat to the Coast Guard so Christmas.” penter cite the cooperation
$1.9 billion, of its general revenue. If implemented, Kelly’s that your boat is available to defend the people of Missouri,” The Boone County Jail inmate between participants in Boone
and Emery’s legislation would eliminate the state’s income, Kelly said. “Like for instance if the Kansans attack down the population is significantly lower County’s justice system as con-
corporate franchise and estate taxes, as well as any existing Osage River … we will be prepared to fight hard. … We’d than in 2008, marking a down- tributing to the reduction in jail
sales tax exemptions. have our luxury boats in place.” turn in a seesaw pattern of overcrowding. About five years
The legislation would raise the state’s sales tax from 4.225 Kelly expects the collection of sales taxes would be far inmate housing rates over the ago, Boone County Circuit
percent to an estimated 5.11 percent to ensure the state loses more efficient and less susceptible to cheating than the past 14 years. Judge Gene Hamilton initiated
no revenue. It would apply to all tangible services, not just state’s income taxes. “I think we have to look at a a monthly meeting between
goods. That means you’ll pay a sales tax when you get a hair- Kelly expects a tax system based on revenue would allow combination of factors, includ- judges, parole officers, pros-
cut, or even when you go to the doctor. transparency and prevent future abuse by powerful inter- ing alternative sentencing and ecution, defense, the Sheriff’s
Such a complete overhaul of the Missouri tax regime est groups in Jefferson City. He, like other conservative willingness of all participants to Department and the Columbia
would place Missouri in the similar company of New Hamp- proponents, thinks a consumption tax would provide stable work together and still maintain Police Department. They meet
shire, Alaska, Texas, Tennessee and five other states that revenue. Unlike conservatives, Kelly didn’t call his version of safety,” Brewer said about the to troubleshoot problems and
do not levy income taxes. Those states also generate money the consumption tax a “fair tax.” reason for the decline. resolve issues in the county’s
through corporate franchise taxes, excise taxes or higher “Nowhere in my bill will you see the words fair tax,” Kelly But he’s happy about it none- justice system.
property taxes. said. “I totally reject the fair tax label. … It is fallacious, and theless because a lower jail pop- “Sometimes we don’t agree,
Missouri would be the first state in the country to adopt a (it is) there for political reasons.” ulation means fewer financial but we work through honest dis-
tax system predicated solely on consumption. For Kelly, fairness in tax policy would require a more pro- worries, successful incarcera- cussion,” Brewer said. “Every-
Such an overhaul, though, is not going to happen this year. gressive state income tax. Like most Democrats, he thinks tion alternatives and a lighter one recognizes there isn’t just
Some cite technical flaws with Kelly’s and Emery’s bill. Oth- that because the wealthy benefit most from state services burden on jail administration one solution to a problem.”
ers say it’s philosophically flawed. All concede that any insti- such as roads and law enforcement, they should shoulder and staff. Carpenter said a trio of alter-
tutional change such as the consumption tax takes time. more of the tax burden. The problem of inmate over- native sentencing programs
It took three years for Emery to even get the legislation out Many Democrats fear House Joint Resolution 36, which crowding has plagued Boone over which she presides have
of committee and onto the House floor for full debate. Once calls for a consumption tax, would mean a regressive tax, County for decades. The current also been a “catalyst” for the
that happened, it sailed through the lower chamber, pass- one that puts more of the tax burden on those least able to jail, built in 1991, was built for decrease in the jail population.
ing 90-65. Then it stalled in the Senate, where Emery said it pay. Kelly disagrees. He thinks Democrats should be more 134 inmates but now contains One of them — the Drug
remains a new and foreign concept. Please see TAXES, page 6A 210 beds. The idea of building Court, founded in 1998 — is an
a new jail has come up repeat- alternative to incarceration for
edly but was a particularly hot felony offenders with substance
topic in 1998 when the county abuse issues. The Mental Health
“There are issues about which different parties are correct. Democrats are right about spent more than $650,000 — the Court was established in 2003
to help misdemeanor or felony
education. Republicans, I believe, are right about this sales tax.” highest amount in more than a
offenders with serious mental
decade — to house inmates in
State Rep. Chris Kelly other counties’ jails. health issues, such as bipolar
D-Columbia In recent months, the num- disorder or schizophrenia.
ber of inmates in the jail has The third — the Reintegration
remained around or below Please see JAIL, page 4A

Bookstore reshelveD It’s a laugh a Health Connection Index

Columbia Books has moved to a new, more energy-efficient The MU-funded Health Connection will
minute for
Abby 7A
location. It’s the sixth time the store has moved, and the remain open thanks to gym member activ- Calendar 2A
owner — and Fred the cat — hopes it’s also the last. ism. It was slated to close at the end of
MU student
Classified 5B
Page 4A June. Page 4A
Comics 7A
Kyle Ayers keeps copious Life Stories 3A
Legislative wrap-up notes about everyday
wanna get nude? Lottery 2A
Some legislators blame term limits for increased partisanship Katy Steinmetz explains why the line Opinion 5A
occurences that he can turn Sports 1B
in the state legislature. between naked and nude is a provocative
into jokes for his stand- and intriguing one to draw. Sudoku 6B
At ColumbiaMissourian.com
up routine. The MU senior Page 5A
hopes to turn comedy into
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