Improvement Plans Get Discussion

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Proposals to boost funding for transportation and to pay for various construction projects are likely to take a step forward at the Missouri Capitol.A House committee plans to vote Tuesday on a plan (HJR14) that could call for $1.2 billion worth of bonds, and the full Senate is preparing to debate a sales tax proposal (SJR16) that would raise nearly $8 billion over a decade to pay for roads, bridges and other transportation projects.The bonding package could involve money for college campuses, state parks, the state Capitol, rural water projects, K-12 schools and economic development initiatives. The transportation measure would raise Missouri’s sales tax by 1 percentage point while freezing the gas tax rate and barring existing roads from becoming toll roads.Both ideas ultimately would require voter approval.