Latest news with #ProTem
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chiefs increase cost of potential Arrowhead renovation
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The stadium package for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals has cleared its first hurdle in the Special Session of the Missouri Legislature. A State Senate Committee passed the vote 6-3 Tuesday. A last-minute change on Monday made it easier for the Fiscal Oversight Committee to pass Senate Bill (SB) 3, one of the proposals read Monday that would try to keep the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri. See the latest forecast, maps and radar for Kansas City The bill's sponsor, Republican State Senator Kurtis Gregory of Saline County and Marshall was put on the committee Monday. The move ensured one of the five votes was there to pass it out of committee. After the vote Tuesday, Gregory talked about Republican State Senate President Cindy O'Laughlin of Shelby County, Missouri and Shelbina. 'That was the President Pro Tem's decision,' Gregory said when asked if he was put on the committee just to make sure the stadium bill passed. 'Her and I have talked a lot. I've asked questions, 'What do we have to do to get this done?' She called one day and [said], 'You're going to be on this committee.' I said, 'Okay, that's great.' I serve at the bequest of the President Pro Tem just like House members serve at the bequest of the Speaker of the House.' A number of people testified in support of Senate Bill 3, which would allow the state to cover up to 50% of the stadium costs for the Chiefs and the Royals. Rich AuBuchon is a lobbyist representing the Chiefs, testified in support of the team renovating GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. He alluded that if the team stayed in Missouri, they'd renovate the current stadium renovate. 'It is a plan that costs $1.15 billion for the Chiefs as of today,' AuBuchon said to the committee. At the end of February of 2024, called for the project to cost $800 million. The Hunt family, was supposed to put in $300 million of that, but the . Aubuchon also said if the team stays in Missouri, they'd stay for 30 years, another difference from the just 25 year guarantee they had for the April 2024 vote. Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Joe Reardon spoke in favor of the senate bill. SB3 would allow the teams to bond up to the amount in state tax revenue that they generated in the year prior to the application. 'Keep being kind': Kansas City bartender's act of kindness saves woman's life The only person to testify against the package Tuesday was the Show-Me Institute's Patrick Tuohey. He told committee members the Chiefs and the Royals are pitting Kansas and Missouri leaders against one another. Monday, O'Laughlin told FOX4 that the full Senate debate on the stadium package would take place Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers agree on Oklahoma budget, could see income tax cut
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Lawmakers quickly met Wednesday afternoon to announce they agreed on the upcoming budget. The big ticket item was the income tax cut proposal. Lawmakers announced that there will be an elimination of the bottom three brackets, and the rest see a .25% cut. 'We still have three-and-a-half billion dollars in savings,' said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow). Below is a grid from the Tax Commission that displays the tax brackets. This isn't a .50% cut that the governor had been pushing for, but it is a path. 'You know, the Pro Tem had a great analogy of someone making $33,000 a year. With the flattening of those brackets, would save around $160 I think was his, was his number. And that's very meaningful for a working family in the state of Oklahoma,' said Governor Kevin Stitt. In total, the proposal for the new year's budget amounts to $12.59 billion. Things that weren't added included the Department of Education (Supt. Ryan Walters') request for $3 million in Trump Bibles to put in every classroom and the $500,000 for concealed carry training for employees. Agencies requested much more than was agreed upon. According to the budget transparency website, they had asked for $13.31 billion. Several new additions were announced that were included in this preliminary budget agreement. $250 million is to be spent on a new Veterinary Medicine school. $312 million will go to a prison purchase in Lawton. Even a new pediatric heart hospital was included in this budget agreement. Last year, the Tax Commission found that the biggest cost that hit Oklahoma revenue was the Private School Choice Tax Credit and the Grocery Sales Tax Cut. Oklahomans speak out, write letters against bill restricting statewide ballot initiatives Another question arose surrounding the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. There have been many questions around millions missing from the current budget and what will happen to their future budget. NonDoc reported this week that the budget shortfall for ODMHSAS was around $27 million, but when asked Wednesday, lawmakers said that number is closer to $30 million. That money will have to head their way soon. 'Underscoring Lawson's questions about creating certainty for a supplemental figure, House Appropriations and Budget Committee Chairman Trey Caldwell reported Wednesday that LOFT had conducted its own review and determined ODMHSAS would need closer to $30.6 million in funding to get through the rest of the fiscal year.' – from NonDoc. 'The tentative plan on the entirety of the mental health budget is to stop the bleeding,' said House Budget Chair Trey Caldwell. On Wednesday, Democrats reacted to this proposed budget agreement. 'Senate Democrats have consistently prioritized a bipartisan budget that solves real problems for Oklahomans – one that focuses on working families, not big companies and well-connected people. We've advocated for a budget that provides a great education for every student, not $50 million for vouchers with little to no oversight or accountability. We believe our budget should help make sure Oklahomans can see a doctor when they need one and not have to wait months for health care. We don't believe this budget prioritizes people,' said Senate Democrat Leader Julia Kirt. There are still several steps before this budget agreement reaches it's finalization stage but this is one of the earliest that lawmakers have come together on a preliminary budget agreement in years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
McKinney mayoral race heads to a runoff
The Brief McKinney residents will have to decide between two candidates running for Mayor in a June runoff election. To avoid a runoff, a candidate must receive 50% of the vote, plus one. Bill Cox earned 47% of the vote, and Scott Sanford earned 41% of the vote in Saturday's election. McKINNEY, Texas - Voters in McKinney will have another chance to decide who will become their next mayor. The choices will be between Bill Cox and Scott Sanford. Bill Cox earned 47% of the vote, and Scott Sanford earned 41% of the vote, according to unofficial election results for the May 3 election. The current mayor, George Fuller, was term-limited and ineligible to run for a third term. The Secretary of State has designated Saturday, June 7, 2025 as the election date for all runoff elections resulting from elections held by local political subdivisions on the May 3, 2025 Uniform Election Date. In a runoff election, the person with the majority of the votes will win the seat. The last day to register to vote or make a change of address for the June 7 runoff election will be Thursday, May 8. Early voting will be Tuesday, May 27, 2025 through Tuesday, June 3. On June 7, polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Bill Cox has served in several leadership positions, including as a McKinney City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem. He received the endorsement of Mayor George Fuller, McKinney Police and McKinney Fire. Cox works in real estate for the Carey Cox Company. His campaign website called for attracting new businesses to the area, while keeping McKinney's "hometown feel." Scott Sanford is the Executive Pastor at Cottonwood Creek Church. He previously served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives for 10 years. Sanford's campaign website calls for keeping property taxes low, improving city infrastructure and calling for McKinney's public safety officials to be the "best-paid in Collin County." The Source Information in this article comes from the Collin County election officials, the City of McKinney, and the Secretary of State.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Garland mayor will be decided in a runoff
The Brief Garland residents will have to decide between two candidates running for Mayor in a June runoff election. To avoid a runoff, a candidate must receive 50% of the vote, plus one. Deborah Morris earned 42% of the vote, and Dylan Hedrick earned 33% of the vote in Saturday's election. GARLAND, Texas - In a six-candidate race, voters in Garland will have another chance to decide between Deborah S. Morris and Dylan Hedrick to be their new mayor. Morris earned 42% percent of the vote in Saturday's election, according to unofficial results. Hedrick earned 33% of the vote. To avoid a runoff, a candidate must receive 50% of the vote, plus one. The Secretary of State has designated Saturday, June 7, 2025 as the election date for all runoff elections resulting from elections held by local political subdivisions on the May 3, 2025 Uniform Election Date. In a runoff election, the person with the majority of the votes will win the seat. The last day to register to vote or make a change of address for the June 7 runoff election will be Thursday, May 8. Early voting will be Tuesday, May 27, 2025 through Tuesday, June 3. On June 7, polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Deborah Morris previously served three terms on Garland's City Council. She was chosen by her colleagues to serve as Deputy Mayor Pro Tem and then Mayor Pro Tem. She and her husband have lived in Garland since 1985. Hedrick is currently in his third and final term as a member of Garland's City Council. Before that, he served on the city planning commission. He has lived in Garland since 2015 with his wife, two daughters and son. Mayor Scott LeMay was term-limited and not eligible for re-election. LeMay has served as mayor since 2019. The Source Information in this article comes from Dallas County Elections and the City of Garland.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Meet Altamont's mayoral candidates
The Altamont Chamber of Commerce on Thursday hosted a Meet the Candidates Q & A Night at the city's municipal building to introduce those running for mayor: Michael (Mike) Walker, Richard Finn and Todd Slingerland. Election Day is April 1. Michael Walker Walker currently acts as mayor Pro Tem. Before that, he was a commissioner on the city council. He's running for mayor to help serve the community, and if elected, his top three priorities would be continuing to work on the South Point subdivision, improving infrastructure and improving the overall facilities. Walker Altamont's Pro Tem mayor Michael (Mike) Walker lists his top three priorities if he were to be elected Altamont mayor during the Meet the Candidates Q & A Night on March 13. As a financial analyst for Heartland Dental, he regularly works with budgets. 'In the city, they have budgets, and every department has its amount of money that it can spend on projects,' said Walker. 'I have a practical sense of what those numbers mean, how to correct them and how to analyze them.' Walker said one of the ways the city receives grant money is by becoming fiscally responsible. If elected mayor, Walker will try to make housing in Altamont more affordable by maintaining the city's expenses, so the city doesn't have to raise certain rates like the utility department has in the past. He would encourage the people to be the change they want to see in the city by continuing to make himself available. He enjoys being part of local organizations and working with different visions, goals and changes of the city. 'I want you guys to know me well enough to know I do the right things for the right reason. Anybody that knows me knows that,' said Walker. 'I've got a lot of projects in play. I want to see them finished.' Richard S. Finn Finn is running for mayor because he wants to give those living in Altamont a voice and because he believes that the city council usually does what is in their own best interest, not the peoples'. If elected, he would prioritize helping small businesses, growing existing infrastructure and transparency by livestreaming city meetings and hosting public forums. Finn During the Meet the Candidates Q & A Night on March 13, Richard Finn explains that if he were elected Altamont mayor, he would create more transparency and be available for the residents to talk to. 'That'll help drive Altamont into growth and into the future,' said Finn. When Finn was 25, he ran a stable of 10 race horses that raced nationwide. He still owns race horses. Because of this, he has experience with employees, overhead, feed cost, fuel cost and learning how to fluctuate with changing times. This experience would help him organize and run the city's budget. 'We need to open the books and cut the useless projects or the projects that shouldn't be priorities that are costing us money,' said Finn. 'I think at the age of 25, if I could manage a business with hundred-thousand-dollar horses, I could do pretty well managing a town. And if not, I have the great people of Altamont to help me, and I have Google at my fingertips.' To try and make housing more affordable, Finn would study the city's different books and look for other contracted sources for electricity to see if they'd be cheaper. 'We don't need to be focused on building brand new 1,500 square foot houses,' said Finn. 'I would work with the people that are already existing here in Altamont on how we can lower their utility bills.' To do this, he would inform the public of different available grants by hosting more public forums. To help encourage the people to be the change they want to see in Altamont, Finn, if elected, would be a voice of the people and connect with the citizens. 'What we need is somebody that's going to sit here and talk to you. Go have a beer with you. Go to the baseball game with you. Get kicked out of basketball games with you,' said Finn. 'There is not a person sitting at this table right now that is more Altamont than me.' Todd V. Slingerland Slingerland is running for mayor because he believes Altamont needs leadership. 'I feel that the people that work for the city deserve a leader that will help guide them in what they need to do to make this town more productive, a happy place to raise our kids and a great place to retire,' said Slingerland. Slingerland Todd Slingerland explains that if he were elected Altamont mayor, he would prioritize getting projects off the ground and create recreational spaces for people of all ages during the Meet the Candidates Q & A Night on March 13. Slingerland believes the city has lots of potential for growth, and if elected, he would prioritize getting projects off the ground, making sure everyone of all ages has a place for recreational use and making Altamont great again. He'd research what the city is spending money on and what money is coming in. He believes the city has to balance its budget, put money to the side and stop postponing projects due to not having enough money for them. To try and help make housing more affordable, if elected, he would create incentives for people to come to Altamont and give them assistance to help them build homes and grow businesses. If elected, he would be available to communicate with the citizens of Altamont to help encourage them to be the change they want to see in the city. 'Let them know that this building is their building, and that they can come in, make an appointment and sit down and discuss what needs to happen in this town,' said Slingerland. When Slingerland ran for mayor two years ago, he realized he didn't have what he felt like was enough time to spend as mayor. Now, as a bus driver and a substitute teacher for St. Elmo School District, he's created more time to spend with family and as mayor, if he were to win the election. 'It takes a leader to work with the other council members to find out what's going on in their department. It takes a leader to go to those departments and find out if they are getting what they need from their supervisors in a council meeting,' said Slingerland. 'I would like the opportunity to be that leader and improve this matter.' To learn more about registering to vote, polling places and more, visit Effingham County's website. Crowd Altamont residents gather in the municipal building to listen to the mayoral candidates during the Meet the Candidates Q & A Night on March 13.
