Traffic Fine Law on the Verge of Passing
On April 22, SB 5, which greatly strengthens a law that limits how much revenue a city can raise via...
Of Stadiums and Economic Spillovers
Recently, we wrote a letter to the Post-Dispatch that criticized the idea that new tax revenue from a riverfront stadium...
Monarch Voters Choose Transparency Over Union-Backed Candidate
This month voters in the Monarch Fire Protection District, a fire district in western Saint Louis County, chose to keep...
Paying for the Privilege . . . to Stay in Bridgeton
After staying overnight in Jefferson City last week, I awoke to find my hotel bill laying on the floor in...
Changes to Macks Creek Law Making Their Way Through Missouri Legislature
Since the events in Ferguson last year, there has been an increasing push from across the political spectrum to do...
Balance Through Transparency – Part 3
I previously wrote about the problems with overly adversarial government labor relations. This wasn’t to say that a cozy relationship...
Balance Through Transparency – Part 2
In writing about how increased transparency can help improve government labor relations, I thought it might be useful to illustrate...
Finding Balance Through Transparency
One of the biggest issues in public policy today has to do with the collective bargaining agreements, or CBAs, that...
Enforcing Macks Creek Law: Progress in Saint Louis County
Last month, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster sued 13 cities in Saint Louis County for violating Macks Creek Law, which caps...
Map Series: VII. Second Most Used Transportation Mode for Commuting in Saint Louis, After Cars
The map above shows the second most used transportation mode for commuting to work in the Saint Louis area census...
Map Series: V. Saint Louis Area Travel Time to Work
The map above shows the mean travel time to work in minutes for residents of Saint Louis City and County...
Warrant Forgiveness: A Step in the Right Direction for Saint Louis County Cities
Recently, 65 municipalities in Saint Louis County announced a warrant forgiveness program for December. In the program, defendants with outstanding...
South County Connector: Still an Opportunity to Toll
Last week, Saint Louis County officials announced that the proposed $120 million South County Connector had been placed on hold. The...
University City Should Carefully Consider Privatization Proposal; Ignore Special Interests
University City is considering outsourcing emergency medical services (EMS). Predictably, this proposal has been the subject of debate among city...
MetroBus System Changes, 2009-2014: More Miles, Fewer Stops, Higher Price Tag
Saint Louis MetroBus service has undergone many changes since the success of 2009’s Proposition A, which increased sales taxes in...
Saint Louis City’s Growth: Trickle-Down Urbanism?
A look at the latest American Community Survey data confirms that income growth in Saint Louis City has been lackluster...
Saint Louis Municipalities: Who Is in Trouble With Macks Creek Law?
In previous posts, we have discussed the problem of small Saint Louis County cities supporting themselves through fines and fees,...
Saint Louis County Municipalities: Should More Consider Disincorporation?
In the months following the tragic events in Ferguson, there has been increasing scrutiny on the policing practices in small...
Where the Buses Don’t Run
Recently, a study from the University of Minnesota calculated how many jobs could be reached by transit in major U.S. cities...
Wastewater Privatization: Case Studies
As Arnold residents prepare to decide whether to sell wastewater facilities in their city to Missouri American Water, they should...
