Voters favor many ballot issues in Missouri

Both north and south of the Missouri River, voters on Tuesday considered ballot issues that could profoundly affect their future.

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Business interests have long said congestion was hurting development near Missouri 291 south and U.S. 50, and voters approved a $10 million general obligation bond to rebuild the interchange.

The proposal won 83 percent of the vote, more than the required four-sevenths majority. The Missouri Department of Transportation is to contribute $8 million to the $16 million project. The city included an extra $2 million to cover unexpected costs.

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Voters were saying yes to a community center funded by an $18 million bond issue to be paid off by a 1 percent sales tax. It was supported by 62 percent of the voters, more than the four-sevenths majority required.

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The city is one of the largest in Missouri without a charter governing the way it’s operated, but 61 percent of voters agreed to a plan to write one.

Voters also chose 13 people, from among 22 candidates, to serve on the charter commission. (See tables for the winners.)

Raytown residents also renewed two sales taxes. A half-cent tax for transportation passed with 71 percent of the vote. A three-eighths-cent capital improvements tax won 73 percent.

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Voters easily passed three city charter changes.

Two proposals said candidates for mayor and City Council can have no felony convictions or be in arrears on city taxes, forfeitures and liens. Both won more than 92 percent approval.

The change aligns the charter with the city code.

The third proposal sets a 120-day limit for citizens to collect signatures on initiative petitions for recall elections, a referendum or charter change. It passed with 86 percent support.

By the narrowest of margins, Peculiar apparently failed to muster the daunting two-thirds majority needed to pass a fuel tax to help the city upgrade its streets. While the measure required 67 percent approval, the unofficial results showed only 66.17 percent approval. City Administrator Brad Ratliff told the Cass County Democrat Missourian that the city would request a recount.

The 1-cent-per-gallon tax was expected to generate about $100,000 for Peculiar, which is home to the Flying J Travel Plaza near Interstate 49.

This story was originally published April 8, 2014 at 10:50 PM with the headline "Voters favor many ballot issues in Missouri."