Logic escapes the state which only has 22 percent with a 4 degree or above!
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the thing is this DOES affect rural Missourians. Every county in Missouri, no matter how rural, has at least one town with an old Main Street area (usually running parallel to train tracks with a grain silo at one end of the street) and these business districts have historic buildings that could be rehabbed with tax credits.
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southsidepride wrote:the thing is this DOES affect rural Missourians. Every county in Missouri, no matter how rural, has at least one town with an old Main Street area (usually running parallel to train tracks with a grain silo at one end of the street) and these business districts have historic buildings that could be rehabbed with tax credits.
That's what I don't get. It's like some outstate politicians would cut off their own heads if it meant they could stick it to St. Louis.
Seriously, you're right. Most Missouri communities, regardless of size or location, can benefit from historic preservation tax credits. While there are literally hundreds of examples in St. Louis and Kansas City, I also know of many in cities like Springfield, Joplin, and Cape Girardeau. Tourist draws like Hermann and Sainte Genevieve can benefit from the program, and courthouse squares in places like Carthage and Farmington look better than they have in at least 20 years or so.
Does the opposition stem from the possible perception that this program just benefits Missouri's largest cities? Of course St. Louis will have more properties that qualify since it has the largest concentration of older buildings and housing stock in the state by far. But you can drive to just about any community in Missouri and see buildings that have been renovated because of these credits, or at least buildings with potential for revitalization. At a time when reinvestment is slumping, now is an especially poor time to consider scaling back or eliminating this incentive.
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Doug wrote:Why isn't this thread 30 pages long?
It's only 2 1/2 days old... give it time...
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you are right 314. Sometimes I think these guys have to know the truth, but they can get voters by claiming to be agin' something that benefits those "city lovin' librul Obama voters (ya know he's an Arab, right?)" 
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^ I predict that part of the "compromise" will be that historic tax credits are preserved.
A 7 man filibuster has been organized to cap or kill the MO State Historic Tax Credit program. Here is an easy way to contact your State Senator through the Missouri Association of Realtors:
http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.c ... ctaxcredit
Send this to everyone you know who might want to send an email supporting the Missouri Historic Tax Credit program. It targets your State Senator instantly based on your ZIP code.
http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.c ... ctaxcredit
Send this to everyone you know who might want to send an email supporting the Missouri Historic Tax Credit program. It targets your State Senator instantly based on your ZIP code.
Received this today:
Thanks very much for writing and for your support of the historic tax
credit, which has been integral to the revitalization of the urban core in
St. Louis and also to the reinvigoration of small towns across the state.
The economic development bill has been amended to remove the cap, which is
very positive, but the bad news is that the percentage of the credit has
been reduced to 20% in the current version that hit the Senate floor this
am.
I plan to offer a series of amendments to try to reinstate the 25% level,
first for all renovation, and if that fails, for all developments of $10M,
and then, if that fails, for all developments of $5M.
I want you to know that I understand how important this tool has been - and
remains - for the continuing renaissance of the city that we love.
Thanks for your advocacy. I will try to keep you posted with updates after
each day we spend debating this bill.
All the best,
Senator Jeff Smith
4th District
http://www.senate.mo.gov/09info/members/mem04.htm
Thanks very much for writing and for your support of the historic tax
credit, which has been integral to the revitalization of the urban core in
St. Louis and also to the reinvigoration of small towns across the state.
The economic development bill has been amended to remove the cap, which is
very positive, but the bad news is that the percentage of the credit has
been reduced to 20% in the current version that hit the Senate floor this
am.
I plan to offer a series of amendments to try to reinstate the 25% level,
first for all renovation, and if that fails, for all developments of $10M,
and then, if that fails, for all developments of $5M.
I want you to know that I understand how important this tool has been - and
remains - for the continuing renaissance of the city that we love.
Thanks for your advocacy. I will try to keep you posted with updates after
each day we spend debating this bill.
All the best,
Senator Jeff Smith
4th District
http://www.senate.mo.gov/09info/members/mem04.htm
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southsidepride wrote:you are right 314. Sometimes I think these guys have to know the truth, but they can get voters by claiming to be agin' something that benefits those "city lovin' librul Obama voters (ya know he's an Arab, right?)"
It really makes you wonder- why else would rural legislators continue to vote against their own economic self interests?
I'm glad our own Mr. Smith is fighting to keep these incentives intact, but it sounds like an uphill battle.
- 101
While a reduction might be better than a cap, that 5% takes a lot of projects off the table. Maybe Mr. McKee could show his support of Historic Preservation and Economic Development by reaching out to his contacts? He does own a few... historic buildings, I mean.
From Missouri Preservation:
Public policy update and call for action.
As many of you may have seen in the paper lately, the historic tax credits are under attack in the state legislature.
This is one of the most serious threats this program has ever faced.
Several of our senators are under the impression that the historic tax credits are used only by wealthy investors. Senator Brad Lager has been quoted as saying the program is “stealing” (Columbia Missourian, 2-13-09) and Senator Matt Bartle said of tax credits in general that “the Gucci suits and Alligator shoes” tell us as a state which tax credits work. (Springfield New-Leader, 2-17-09)
Senate Bill 45 and House Bill 191 are identical Economic Stimulus bills and each contains a provision to lower the state historic tax credits to 20%.
Even more worrisome is the expressed intention of many legislators to cap the program.
Take Action:
Let our legislators know that there are not a lot of Alligator shoes in the preservation world! There are, however a lot of good jobs that simply would not be there without the credits.
Please take time to call and write your legislator right now to let them know how well the historic tax credits work for the rest of us. Our legislators need to hear from construction workers, plant employees, small businesses, etc. Your voice will make a difference.
Ask them to fight to keep this program intact and to watch for last minute amendments on the floor.
Go here to look up your legislator http://www.senate.mo.gov/llookup/leg_lookup.aspx.
Send copies and/or call these senators as well:
Senator Matt Bartle – Jackson County
State Capitol Building
Room 319
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-1464
FAX: (573) 751-8442
Senator Jason Crowell – Cape Girardeau
State Capitol Building
Room 323
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-2459
FAX: (573) 522-9289
Senator Brad Lager – Andrew, Atchison, Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Sullivan, and Worth Counties
State Capitol Building
Room 429
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-1415
Senator Chuck Purgason – Camden, Howell, Laclede, Oregon, Shannon, Texas, Wright Counties (Lebanon)
State Capitol Building
Room 420A
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Senator Luann Ridgeway – Clay County
State Capitol Building
Room 221
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-2547
Talking Points:
This is not a program that only benefits wealthy investors. Of the historic tax credit projects done in Missouri between 1998 and 2007, 1 in 7 was less than $100,000 and another 30% were between $100,000 and $250,000. All told, two projects in three were less than $500,000.
As all levels of government scramble to create and maintain jobs, it makes no sense to alter this highly successful program. Dollar for dollar, historic preservation creates more jobs and more household income that manufacturing. “A million dollars of manufacturing output in Missouri will add, on average about $470,000 to local household incomes. But a million dollars of rehabilitation? Nearly $704,000. (Rypkema, Oct. 2008.)
A million dollars spent for historic rehabilitation will create more jobs and more state and local taxes than a million dollars spent on highway construction. And, while highway projects are usually 100% tax payer funded, historic preservation projects are at most only partially offset by tax credits. Finally, since historic credits are awarded only after the projects are complete, the benefits are felt by communities long before any state tax credits are issued. (Rypkema, Oct. 2008.)
A cap on the program would be disastrous. It is not good business to enter into a deal in which 25% of your costs are uncertain. The Federal government recognizes that its historic tax credit must be uncapped in order to work, and that program has no cap.
A cap would squeeze out the smaller, less sophisticated property owners. This incentive would go from being based on the type of work you plan to do, to a matter of who you know or how long you are willing to let your property stand neglected while you wait in lone for an allocation.
Finally, because this program has been proven time and time again to pay for itself, changes to it will only hurt the state’s economy and INCREASE unemployment.
Want to know more? Go to www.preservemo.org and visit the public policy page
Public policy update and call for action.
As many of you may have seen in the paper lately, the historic tax credits are under attack in the state legislature.
This is one of the most serious threats this program has ever faced.
Several of our senators are under the impression that the historic tax credits are used only by wealthy investors. Senator Brad Lager has been quoted as saying the program is “stealing” (Columbia Missourian, 2-13-09) and Senator Matt Bartle said of tax credits in general that “the Gucci suits and Alligator shoes” tell us as a state which tax credits work. (Springfield New-Leader, 2-17-09)
Senate Bill 45 and House Bill 191 are identical Economic Stimulus bills and each contains a provision to lower the state historic tax credits to 20%.
Even more worrisome is the expressed intention of many legislators to cap the program.
Take Action:
Let our legislators know that there are not a lot of Alligator shoes in the preservation world! There are, however a lot of good jobs that simply would not be there without the credits.
Please take time to call and write your legislator right now to let them know how well the historic tax credits work for the rest of us. Our legislators need to hear from construction workers, plant employees, small businesses, etc. Your voice will make a difference.
Ask them to fight to keep this program intact and to watch for last minute amendments on the floor.
Go here to look up your legislator http://www.senate.mo.gov/llookup/leg_lookup.aspx.
Send copies and/or call these senators as well:
Senator Matt Bartle – Jackson County
State Capitol Building
Room 319
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-1464
FAX: (573) 751-8442
Senator Jason Crowell – Cape Girardeau
State Capitol Building
Room 323
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-2459
FAX: (573) 522-9289
Senator Brad Lager – Andrew, Atchison, Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Sullivan, and Worth Counties
State Capitol Building
Room 429
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-1415
Senator Chuck Purgason – Camden, Howell, Laclede, Oregon, Shannon, Texas, Wright Counties (Lebanon)
State Capitol Building
Room 420A
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Senator Luann Ridgeway – Clay County
State Capitol Building
Room 221
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-2547
Talking Points:
This is not a program that only benefits wealthy investors. Of the historic tax credit projects done in Missouri between 1998 and 2007, 1 in 7 was less than $100,000 and another 30% were between $100,000 and $250,000. All told, two projects in three were less than $500,000.
As all levels of government scramble to create and maintain jobs, it makes no sense to alter this highly successful program. Dollar for dollar, historic preservation creates more jobs and more household income that manufacturing. “A million dollars of manufacturing output in Missouri will add, on average about $470,000 to local household incomes. But a million dollars of rehabilitation? Nearly $704,000. (Rypkema, Oct. 2008.)
A million dollars spent for historic rehabilitation will create more jobs and more state and local taxes than a million dollars spent on highway construction. And, while highway projects are usually 100% tax payer funded, historic preservation projects are at most only partially offset by tax credits. Finally, since historic credits are awarded only after the projects are complete, the benefits are felt by communities long before any state tax credits are issued. (Rypkema, Oct. 2008.)
A cap on the program would be disastrous. It is not good business to enter into a deal in which 25% of your costs are uncertain. The Federal government recognizes that its historic tax credit must be uncapped in order to work, and that program has no cap.
A cap would squeeze out the smaller, less sophisticated property owners. This incentive would go from being based on the type of work you plan to do, to a matter of who you know or how long you are willing to let your property stand neglected while you wait in lone for an allocation.
Finally, because this program has been proven time and time again to pay for itself, changes to it will only hurt the state’s economy and INCREASE unemployment.
Want to know more? Go to www.preservemo.org and visit the public policy page
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Senator Jason Crowell – Cape Girardeau
State Capitol Building
Room 323
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-2459
FAX: (573) 522-9289
Ugh. Senator Crowell attended SEMO around the same time as yours truly. I should probably bite my tongue, but...
Let's just say that I'm not surprised to see him being an impediment to progress. And there was the time when, as a state representative for Cape Girardeau, he simulated flatulence noises while then-Governor Holden was speaking before the General Assembly. Stay classy, Jason.
It's also very disappointing to see two Kansas City area legislators on this list as well. Thanks a lot, guys.
I just sent another round of emails off. Everyone here should as well. The MHTC is too important to St. Louis, and Missouri in general, to let it be tampered with. I, along with several other people will also be making a trip out to Jefferson City on Tuesday March 24 to personally lobby Senators and Representatives.
Your action is even more urgent. Contact every state senator and representative and tell them how important an unaltered Missouri Historic Tax Credit is to the future of our state. Tell you family, friends, neighbors, everyone to send letters and make phone calls as well. This is too important to the future of St. Louis to let a couple of legislatures that think they know better make changes to the most effective tax credit offered.
March 12, 2009
Call to Action - $50 Million Cap, Sunset, Yearly Appropriations and Geographic Allocations.
Dear Coalition Member,
Recent developments in the Missouri Senate threaten to destroy the state historic preservation tax credit. Yesterday (Wednesday, March 11), the 250-page Senate substitute for Senate Bill 45 was discussed on the floor.
The bill contains language developed by a group of six senators (Bartle, Crowell, Lager, Purgason, Ridgeway, and Lembke), and it comprises the greatest threat that the state historic preservation credit has ever faced in its eleven years. It would destroy any meaningful use of the credit, would make it subject to appropriations each year, end in 2011, limit credits geographically, and have a destructive cap.
Although the Senate substitute is not yet available online, summaries (both official and bullet pointed) are available on our website: http://www.savehistorictaxcredit.org/Le ... pdate.aspx.
As you can see, all tax credit programs are addressed and changed at different levels.
The Missouri legislature’s current position regarding the state historic preservation credit requires action. Coalition leaders have spoken with House speaker Ron Richard about the issue, and are scheduled to meet with him again today. We are presently staying with the strategy we developed for the session.
Our primary response to this severe attack is to alert our supporters so that they may contact the Governor, as well as Senate and House members. Although legislative progress will not be made this week, Senator Shields has indicated that legislators will be seeking feedback from constituents throughout the legislative spring break (Friday, March 13 through Sunday, March 22). It is critical that you take advantage of this opportunity.
Please urge members of your organization to call, e-mail, and write to the Governor and state legislators. (Find them at: http://www.senate.mo.gov/09info/senalpha.htm and http://www.house.mo.gov/member.aspx ) It is imperative that they hear our message:
Our economy is in a time of crisis. Now is not the time to destroy the state historic preservation credit – a true job producing and economic development program which helps to create stability in the housing market and in our communities.
The financial climate, coupled with the uncertainty of the tax credit program, has stalled many projects already. Missouri can’t afford to cut the historic preservation tax credit; it would and is bringing redevelopment and development of our communities to a halt.
The proposed legislative changes will kill projects, jobs, and economic recovery in cities across the state, from major metropolitan areas to our 48 small town DREAM communities.
Under proposed legislation, skilled and unskilled construction jobs will be lost in every corner of Missouri.
A cap on the credit will destroy the law as we know it. A competitive, political process would replace the current market through which the credit operates.
HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Call, e-mail, and write to the Governor and state legislators.
Send this alert on to your email lists. Spread the word!
Visit our website at www.savehistorictaxcredit.com for our fact sheet, talking points, and more information.
Write a letter to the editor. Contact local newspapers with your personal Historic Tax Credit story. Not only will readers become more aware of our cause, but they will understand the Historic Tax Credit from the viewpoint of someone who shares their community.
Work the halls in Jefferson City. Meet Senators and House members face-to-face with other Coalition members in order to make your story heard. Contact Anne Suggs at asu...@savehistorictaxcredit.org for help with organizing your visit.
Please contact Anne Suggs at asu...@savehistorictaxcredit.org if you have questions or need more information.The Coalition for Historic Preservation and Economic Development sincerely thanks you for your efforts. Your action is absolutely essential to ensuring the continuation of the historic preservation tax credit.
Missouri Coalition for Historic Preservation & Economic Development
P.O. Box 2106, Jefferson City, MO 65201-2106
http://www.savehistorictaxcredit.org
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On my desk I have a mailer from Brad Lager that says, "When St. Louis and Kansas City special interests threaten our way of life, we need a senator who will fight for us."
Great mindset, Brad.
Great mindset, Brad.
DeBaliviere wrote:On my desk I have a mailer from Brad Lager that says, "When St. Louis and Kansas City special interests threaten our way of life, we need a senator who will fight for us."
Great mindset, Brad.
Let me guess: he pronounces our state name Missourah?
- 11K
I love how everyone deifies their "way of life," even if it's rural poverty. 
- 2,772
Grover wrote:I love how everyone deifies their "way of life," even if it's rural poverty.
We'll remember that next time our tax dollars are going out to JeffCo to build them a bridge or pave them a road.
Bob Lager, from a town of less the 5000 thinks that the historic tax credit is a waste.
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-pl ... x-credits/
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-pl ... x-credits/
From Brad Lager. Not a response to me.
Keep sending emails and making phone calls. We have a good sized group meeting in Jefferson City tomorrow to personally talk to legislators. Hopefully we can change enough minds by continuing to let them know that the MHTC is too important to Missouri to mess with.
Thanks for the note. I greatly appreciate you sharing your thoughts with
me.
I understand your passion for preservation and respect your position.
However, I also have a responsibility to the taxpayers of this state to
spend and invest the dollars they give us in the most responsible
way possible. As you know, we are not like Washington DC, we have
a balanced budget requirement in our state and every dollar we spend
and invest must be weighed accordingly.
Although our state budget has grown to just short of $24 billion, we
still have many needs to balance. Through the first seven months of
this fiscal year (July 1, 2008 thru Jan 31, 2009), we issued nearly
$200 million in historic preservation tax credits. To put this in
perspective,
of the thousands of line items we fund in our $24 billion budget, only
3 are in excess of $200 million. Therefore, paying for the restoration
of old buildings has become the 4th highest priority of state government.
Although I appreciate our partnership in the restoration of historic
buildings,
I cannot in good conscience allow this to continue. I cannot honestly tell
you that this should be one of state government's top priorities. In fact,
I am embarrassed that I have schools in rural Missouri that cannot afford
a computer in every classroom but yet we have allowed this type of spending
in other areas of state government.
I do not believe that we should eliminate this program. I do not believe
that we should dramatically alter this program. However, I do believe
that a reasonable cap and a fiscally responsible approach to future
authorizations is in order.
I am committed to making our state government live within its means
just like you and I do in our personal lives. It will require great
patience,
endurance, and persistence by everyone. These challenging times
require much of everyone.
I hope this helps clarify my position and my beliefs.
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts and insight.
Brad
Keep sending emails and making phone calls. We have a good sized group meeting in Jefferson City tomorrow to personally talk to legislators. Hopefully we can change enough minds by continuing to let them know that the MHTC is too important to Missouri to mess with.
Springfield representative is mad that Springfield doesn't see as much development as St. Louis and Kansas City as a result of the tax credit.
http://www.news-leader.com/article/2009 ... 9/90408068
http://www.news-leader.com/article/2009 ... 9/90408068