In the News

School Districts Meet State-wide Standard for Excellence

COLUMBIA, MO - The University of Missouri's College of Education and the Heart of Missouri Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC) recognized 34 Missouri school districts at mid-Missouri's annual DESE Awards Banquet, held March 12 at the MU campus. Earning "Distinction in Performance" requires a school district to perform at a high level or make steady progress in all areas of academic achievement.

During the 2008-2009 academic year, 319 of Missouri's 523 public school districts qualified for this recognition, which is sponsored by DESE. The Distinction in Performance award criterion is based on the 14 academic performance standards used in the accreditation of K-12 school districts. K-8 districts use a portion of these standards. These standards are measured by the Missouri Assessment Plan tests, graduation rate, attendance and ACT scores.

"To qualify for Distinction in Performance, a school district must be achieving at a high level or making consistent progress at all grade levels. School districts work hard to achieve this recognition," said DESE Assistant Commissioner Stan Johnson.

"I commend Missouri educators and students for their hard work and progress. By maintaining a strong focus on achievement and accountability in all schools, we can help all students have a brighter future," said Ned Miller, Interim Director of the Heart of Missouri RPDC.

"It is fitting that Missouri's flagship university and our College of Education today join DESE officials in recognizing the high caliber of education in Missouri's schools. Quality education systems are of paramount importance to all of us." Miller said. "Today, we recognize the superb efforts of many in attaining the high level of achievement required to earn this prestigious honor."

To qualify for the award, K-8 districts must have met 6 of 7 performance standards, including all of those based on the results of MAP tests. K-12 districts must have met 13 out of 14 standards, including all of the MAP-based measures.

"I commend all Missouri school districts for the work they do day in and day out. Ultimately, we hope each school district qualifies for this award, as educating the next generation is our most important task at hand," said Rose Porter, interim dean of MU's College of Education. "I am proud of the College of Education's association with DESE in presenting the Distinction in Performance Awards and congratulate each of the districts for their hard work."

The following mid-Missouri school districts were recognized with Distinction in Performance at the University of Missouri: Blackwater R-II, Blair Oaks R-II, Boncl R-X, Boonville R-I, Camdenton R-III, Centralia R-VI, Clarksburg C-2, Cole Co. R-I, Columbia 93, Cooper Co. R-IV, Fulton 58, Harrisburg R-VIII, High Point R-III, Holliday C-2, Jefferson City, Keytesville R-III, Macks Creek R-V, Mexico 59, Middle Grove C-1, Moniteau Co. R-I, Montgomery Co. R-II, Morgan Co. R-II, New Franklin R-I, North Callaway Co. R-I, Otterville R-VI, Paris R-II, Pike Co. R-III, Salisbury R-IV, School Of The Osage, South Callaway Co. R-II, Southern Boone Co. R-I, Tipton R-VI, Wellsville Middletown R-I, and Westran R-I.

The Distinction in Performance award winners were officially announced by DESE in December 2009.

---

Department of Economic Development awards Montgomery County $2.2 million in supplemental CDBG disaster funding

MONTGOMERY CITY - The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) announced today that a project in an area of the state affected by weather related disasters during 2008 has been approved for supplemental Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.

The funding was approved by Congress with the passage of the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009 (Public Law 110-329), which appropriated $6.5 billion in CDBG funds for expenses related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration of infrastructure, housing and economic revitalization in areas affected by hurricanes, flooding and other natural disasters that occurred during 2008 and for which a presidential disaster declaration was issued. Missouri was allocated $ $92,605,490 from this appropriation.

Montgomery County has been approved for a CDBG in the amount of $2,250,000 to assist in the construction of a new Highway 19 overpass.

All projects funded must meet one of the following CDBG national objectives:

• Low-to-moderate income (LMI) benefit: at least 51 percent of the persons benefitting from the project must be of LMI status, which is defined as incomes at or below 80 percent of the county median household income. This may be met through area 51 percent benefit, housing, job creation/retention, or limited clientele.
• Slum and blight removal
• Urgent threat to health and safety

Eligible applicants are units of local government (cities and counties) located in an area receiving a presidential disaster declaration in 2008. Areas not included in at least one of these are not eligible for this funding.

---

Tax Foundation ranks Missouri 15th...for sales taxes
Copyright 2009 bizjournals.com

Missouri ranks No. 15 and Illinois No. 6 for combined state and local sales taxes, according to a report by the Tax Foundation.

The Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation said in a Friday release that Missouri had a 4.23 percent sales tax rate, a 2.95 percent average local rate and a 7.18 percent combined state and average local rate as of Sept. 29.

Illinois had a 6.25 percent sales tax rate, a 2.15 percent average local rate and an 8.4 percent combined state and average local rate.

This is the first time the Tax Foundation has combined state and local data in a ranking, spokeswoman Natasha Altamirano said Monday.

The organization compiled local sales tax data using five-digit ZIP codes and averaging ZIP code rates within each locality. It also used data from the Sales Tax Clearinghouse, the U.S. Census Bureau and state revenue departments.

California had the highest state sales tax rate, at 8.25 percent, and the second-highest combined rate, at 9.06 percent, according to the Tax Foundation's ranking. Tennessee had the highest combined rate, at 9.41 percent.

The full report with rankings of all states is available on the Tax Foundation'sWeb site.

The Tax Foundation is a nonprofit organization that seeks to educate taxpayers about sound tax policy and the tax burden borne by Americans at all governmental levels.

---

Missouri Stands Out in National Tax Policy Rankings
State recognized in The Tax Foundation's search for sound tax policy

Missouri ranks 5th in the nation for best corporate tax rate and 16th for best overall tax policies, according to a recent report by The Tax Foundation. Both rankings are higher than those of Missouri's eight surrounding states - Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Tennessee, Iowa, Arkansas, Kentucky and Nebraska.

Missouri also ranks 7th best in the U.S. for unemployment insurance tax.

"My administration is focused on creating jobs and growing our economy by providing businesses with tools for success," Gov. Jay Nixon said. "Missouri's favorable tax environment, combined with my administration's pro-growth policies like elimination of the franchise tax on more than 16,000 small businesses, makes Missouri the perfect location for business growth and prosperity."

The recent study was conducted by the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax research group based in Washington, D.C. and charged with educating citizens about tax policy.

Missouri's position in tax rankings is the cornerstone of its attractive business environment. Missouri allows a 50 percent deduction of federal income tax before computing taxable income, which leads to an effective corporate income tax rate of just 5.2 percent.

---

St. Louis Ranks as #6 Best U.S. Cities To Earn A Living
Number of Forbes' 400 Best Big Companies: 1
Number of Forbes' 200 Best Small Companies: 8
Median Income: 26,475
ACCRA Cost of Living Index # (100 Median): 89.9
Five-Year forecasted Annual Job Growth: 0.94%
To read the whole story visit Forbes online.

---

Missouri Moves Up in National Business Rankings
State recognized by CNBC and Pollina Corporate Real Estate

CNBC recently announced America's Top States for Business in 2009, ranking Missouri 4th in cost of business and 5th in cost of living. In addition, the state ranks 6th in transportation based on the value of goods shipped by air, land and water. Missouri's overall ranking climbed from 24th in 2008 to 14th in 2009. Another study recently released by Pollina Corporate Real Estate ranked Missouri 12th for its pro-business climate, up from 16th in 2008.

CNBC ranks states based on their standings in ten economic development categories, with the cost of doing business as the top selling point. Pollina's study evaluates states on 33 factors including taxes, human resources, energy costs, infrastructure spending, workers compensation laws, economic incentive programs and state economic development efforts. Pollina is a full service brokerage and consulting firm representing corporations on a national and international level.

"We are proud to not only be moving up in the business climate rankings, but to be doing so in this challenging economic environment," said Governor Jay Nixon. "With our many business-friendly qualities and skilled workforce, Missouri offers the best location for companies from all over the world."

Missouri's high rankings in the CNBC and Pollina studies exemplify the state's strong advantages for business investment. To learn more about doing business in Missouri please visit www.missouripartnership.com.

---