Endorsements

Donna Baringer, State Representative for the 82nd District of Missouri

When speaking with constituents, the most important concerns regard safety, infrastructure, and beautification of our neighborhoods. Recently, there has been an effort launched to enact a Special Business District (SBD) that would make it possible to address these concerns. I am always in support of neighbors coming together and spending their time, energy, and money on improving our community.

In recent years, it has become apparent that we need to find a solution to address these concerns. I am the first to admit that because we already pay taxes, these issues should already be fully funded. To some extent they are, but we still have a lot of work to do. When residents of an SBD agree to increase their own property taxes, it gives us the ability to keep the funds local. When you consider the “purchasing power” of 2000+ households, this becomes a sizeable investment in our community that stays within our community. It’s important to keep in mind that no decisions will be made on behalf of the SBD without approval from the SBD Board. The work of the SBD Board does not diminish the work that is being done by our city officials. We will still need volunteers and advocates to lobby the Board of Aldermen and other elected officials to insist on maintaining municipal services.

With each successful SBD that is adopted in the City, it encourages others to implement a district in their own area. It is always wonderful when we can say an effort is a win-win, and in my opinion that is certainly the case with the adoption of our SBD.