State Auditor Susan Montee says the state law that bans officials from using government vehicles for political trips is absolute and doesn’t allow for political travels even if the state is reimbursed for the cost. Montee’s conclusion came in a routine audit of Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder’s office released Oct. 30.
In September 2006, Kinder’s campaign paid the state $5,757 to cover the cost of political trips in his state car. The Office of Administration had advised Kinder he could use the care for political trips so long as he reimbursed the state. OA’s reimbursement policy, however, is not supported by state law.
Attorney General Jay Nixon’s campaign on Oct. 26 paid the state $47,022 in reimbursement for using his state vehicle. Both Nixon and Kinder say they are no longer using state vehicles to travel to political events.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
SCHOOL FUNDING LAWSUIT WILL BE APPEALED
A group of school districts that sued the state over the constitutionality of its public school funding system will appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court after a circuit judge ruled against them on all counts.
The schools filed the lawsuit in January 2004 and it finally went to trial earlier this year. They claimed the state’s 1993 school funding formula and a replacement formula adopted in 2005 provided inadequate funding for education that was unfairly distributed among Missouri’s 524 public school districts. Cole County Judge Richard Callahan rejected those claims in a pair of decisions issued in August and September.
The schools filed the lawsuit in January 2004 and it finally went to trial earlier this year. They claimed the state’s 1993 school funding formula and a replacement formula adopted in 2005 provided inadequate funding for education that was unfairly distributed among Missouri’s 524 public school districts. Cole County Judge Richard Callahan rejected those claims in a pair of decisions issued in August and September.
MENTAL HEALTH PLANS TO OUTSOURCE CASEWORKERS
The Missouri Department of Mental Health plans to eliminate the jobs of 484 caseworkers for the developmentally disabled and outsource their duties to private companies.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the department says the move will reduce the number of caseloads per worker as private providers can hire workers at a lower cost than the state, thus resulting in more caseworkers at the same overall cost. Critics, however, said the move will result in private companies putting their financial interests ahead of their clients’ needs.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the department says the move will reduce the number of caseloads per worker as private providers can hire workers at a lower cost than the state, thus resulting in more caseworkers at the same overall cost. Critics, however, said the move will result in private companies putting their financial interests ahead of their clients’ needs.
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