© 2024 St. Louis Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Mo. Auditor's office: zero costs/savings for judicial and health exchange ballot questions

(via Flickr/hlkljgk)

Two ballot questions going before Missouri voters in November won’t cost or save the state any money, according theState Auditor’s office.

One in particular wouldmake changes to how appellate judges are selected.  The fiscal note for that measure was put together by Deputy Auditor Harry Otto.

“(We contacted) four statewide offices, 20 other departments/agencies, the House and Senate," Otto said.  "Out of those 24 places that we contacted we received comments from 16, and all 16 said ‘no costs associated with this measure.’”

The second ballot measure wouldbar the creation of a health care exchange in Missouri unless the legislature authorizes it.  Otto says it, too, would not cost or save the state any money if approved by voters.  Both measures originated as legislation, which exempts them from a Cole County judge’s ruling that bars the State Auditor’s office from preparing cost estimates for ballot questions.  Otto says Judge Jon Beetem’s ruling only applies to ballot questions that began as citizens’ petitions.

 

Marshal was a political reporter for St. Louis Public Radio until 2018.