A complaint has been filed with the Missouri Secretary of State and Missouri Ethics Commission against the St. Joseph School District regarding election laws and the tax levy up for vote on the November ballot.

According to a news release, Chris Green, a small business owner and former educator filed the complaint.

The complaint alleges that the School District is “wasting taxpayer dollars to advocate for passage of a significant tax increase on the November 7, 2017 ballot.”

In the news release, it is stated that the complaint focuses on “the fact that the St. Joseph School District is paying for direct mail pieces targeting registered voters. These mailers do not merely inform the public, they are attempting to persuade voters to support Proposition 1.”

The St. Joseph School District released the following statement:

The District has a responsibility to share information about the tax proposal. The district and its employees recognize the limits and have been very careful to ensure that Missouri law is followed.

Voters are entitled to know the facts. When they are being asked to consider a tax increase, it would be irresponsible of the district if voters were not informed about why the money is needed and how it will be spent.

The St. Joseph School District understands that voters will not just give it a blank check. That is why the District has explained how it intends to spend the money. The District is not telling voters how to vote, and trusts voters to decide for themselves whether the District’s plans for the additional money are wise.

 

If the proposition is approved by voters it would generate $11.5 million each year.

As previously reported, the two groups that launched campaigns on both sides of the proposition include the Committee to Move St. Joseph Forward and Support A Better SJSD.