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Not positive about the Post-Dispatch's print version, but this morning's Stltoday.com featured the following article as one of its main stories: "Proposal could lead to elections on expanding Zoo-Museum District." It starts this way:
A low-key effort under way in the Legislature could set the stage for a vote to expand the St. Louis Zoo-Museum District and its property tax to other area counties.
Last year property owners in St. Louis and St. Louis County kicked in more than $72 million in taxes to help fund the five institutions in the Zoo-Museum District. The proposal would allow other counties to hold elections on joining the district and funding it.
"There is a fairness issue," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Joan Bray, D-University City. "We're paying it. Everybody (else) comes as our guests."
Not mentioned in this particular P-D article (though Sen. Bray admits it freely) is that this idea originated from Ray Hartmann, who has outlined his proposal in his new "Think Again" column (first page shown above) debuting in St. Louis Magazine's April 2009 issue. Most subscribers have theirs already; those wanting to buy a copy can do so at newsstands starting March 31, or call us at 314-918-3000 anytime. (No, we won't be placing the whole 2,200-word commentary online at the same time.)
Questions? Already read Hartmann's column and want to sound off? Drop us a line. -- Stephen Schenkenberg
