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Missouri Legislators Asking For $1 Billion Bond

Democratic Representative Chris Kelly and Republican Senator Kurt Schaefer say the current low borrowing and construction costs make a bond issue attractive.
Missouri Government
/
KRCU

Two Missouri lawmakers say low borrowing and construction costs make now the time for a bond issue.

Democratic Representative Chris Kelly and Republican Senator Kurt Schaefer want to put a nearly one billion dollar bond issue before voters.

Kelly says it will make needed capital improvements to the state's university campuses, mental health facilities, and even the state capitol building.

"When we get done, there's something meaningful left over,” Kelly said. “There's no new government jobs, all the jobs will be in the private sector. But something is there when we're done."

Schaefer says capital improvements to infrastructure and facilities will be a major theme in the next legislative session.

"We need to look at what's the most prudent thing to do to make sure that we maintain them, and make sure that they're viable and available for the public as intended,” Schaefer said.

Kelly says a bonding bill has support from fellow lawmakers, and he hopes to pass one in time to put it on the April ballot.  

If voters were to approve, it would be the largest state bond issue in thirty years.