Berry: Redistricting, Assessor Makes Second Request To Use Alternate Values

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and I wish you the best in the New Year.

Session

Missouri legislative session begins each year at noon on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January. We will be in session through the second week in May.

Redistricting

The newly drawn redistricting maps were completed in early December. There has been a drastic change across the state. The 35^th district has been split by our Appellate Court Judges into the new 12^th and 38^th House Districts. I now reside in the new 38^th District. Redistricting lines will not take effect until the election of 2012. I will continue to represent the 35^th District for twelve more months.

The Smithville area of Clay County has been added to the 12^th Senatorial District. The district now includes over 183,000 people and all of Ray, Caldwell, Clinton, Andrew, Holt, Atchison, DeKalb, Nodaway, Gentry, Harrison, Worth, and Davies Counties.

Links to the new maps are below; Please take a look to see which of the new districts you live in.

  State Senate: New Senate Districts
  State House: New House Districts

Personal Property Tax

Everyone should have recently received a letter from the Clay county assessor’s office dealing with vehicle property tax assessment. This is the second year the Assessor has requested the ability to use either the Kelly Blue Book or NADA value. It is important to use the same standard across the state’s 114 counties. The Assessor would like to make this decision at the discretion of their office. I have a reluctance to grant politicians the ability to manipulate tax revenues during election cycles. I would welcome your input on this matter.

Bill Information

If you would like to track legislation you may log on to www.house.mo.gov and select “Bill Information” and then select “Bill Tracking”. You may search by topic or bill number. If you want to track the bills that I have either sponsored or co-sponsored, just enter my last name and you will be able to look at each of those also.

Capitol Reports

If you know anyone who would be interested in receiving this Capitol Report, they can click the “Capitol Report Signup” button on my member home page at www.house.mo.gov and enter the appropriate information to receive the Capitol Report. As always if you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact my office at (573) 751–2238 or by email at TJ{dot}Berry{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.