Lichtenegger: Missouri Accountability Portal

Today the House passed HB 1140 which requires the office of Administration to maintain public School and county government accountability information on the Missouri Accountability Portal (MAP).

This online portal was designed so Missourians would have a comprehensive, easy, one-stop access to how their state tax dollars are spent. This legislation would require “the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must collect and submit certain specified financial and policy information to the Office of Administration for inclusion on the portal. School districts and charter schools must annually provide detailed employee compensation data, the school calendar, the district budget, and school policies to the department in an electronic format that is commonly used by the school district in its communications with the department.

Each county governmental entity must collect and annually transmit to the Office of Administration for inclusion on the portal detailed compensation information and the county budget according to standards established by the office.”

HJR 43, referred to as the Taxpayer Protection Act, also passed. This constitutional amendment –which will require voter approval- will limit the growth of the state budget. Once approved by voters it will limit growth by tying any increase in the budget to population growth plus the rate of inflation. In any fiscal year when the net general revenue collections are more than 1.5% but less than 2.5% of the total state general revenue appropriations allowed, the excess moneys must be appropriated solely for state general obligation debt reduction. (from the bill summary which you can access the full perfected bill summary by linking here: HJR 43 complete summary)This prevents state entities from increasing the size or scope of government should the state experience a significant increase in future revenue.

Constituent Corner

I am excited to announce that out of 22 state-wide awards two Jackson businesses won the 2012 Rising Stars of Innovation and Entrepreneurship –sponsored by the Missouri Small Business & Technology Development (MSBTD).


Congratulations are in order for Donna and Dennis Cook, owners of Main Street Flooring and Interiors, (pictured top & lower left) and Lonnie and Lindsay, owners of Gaming Grounds (couple pictured right). Richard Proffer (second from the top-left) of the Cape Girardeau County University of Missouri Extension was the SBTD center’s counselor.

They received the award during Thursday’s MSBTD’s ceremony here at the state capitol.