Submitted by David Roling, Area Manager, Emery Sapp & Sons

Having now spent over 40 years in the construction industry, it certainly is not difficult to advocate for this ¾ of 1% increase in Missouri tax for the next 10 years. It will ONLY be used on the improvement of roads, bridges, and other priority transportation projects in Missouri. 90% of the revenue will fund priority transportation projects statewide through the MoDOT system, 5% will be allocated back to counties and 5% for local cities, thus a new funding source for transportation projects for Greene County and the City of Springfield. The projects will be approved by the MoDOT Commission and is constitutionally guaranteed for be completed.

This sales tax will apply only to non-essential items. Exempt are groceries, gas, utilities, and prescription drugs and will, by statute, prevent any per gallon increase in gas tax for a period of ten years for an amount of up to $0.25 per gallon.

Improving our infrastructure and public transit enhances our ability to promote economic development statewide as well as locally providing the necessary infrastructure for expanding businesses and the unobstructed movement of goods and services. As always, it will create and expand jobs and corresponding opportunities for our member contractors, material suppliers, and all those whose market share is affected by overall economic investment.

Because this is a constitutionally approved method of approval by tax payers, these funds cannot be re-directed to non-transportation purposes during the 10 year period of collection and must be spent on a designated public project list earmarked for these funds. That, in a “nut shell”, is accountability, something the public demands of our tax dollars.

I would urge all SCA members to consider the attributes of job creation, improved road safety, and fiscal accountability that this amendment provides and join me in voting “yes” for an investment that will ensure that our state, our community, and our construction industry will continue to derive economic benefit throughout the upcoming decade.