North County Incorporated’s 2022 Policy Agenda
North County Incorporated is a not-for-profit regional development organization which acts as a catalyst to define and advocate for economic and community development for North St. Louis County, since 1977.Our membership is a collaborative for municipal, community, and business leaders who are dedicated to the sustainability and advancement of the residential and business climate of the region.
North County Inc. is intentional in its’ efforts to strive for an equitable and inclusive community. NCI encourages the utilization of an equity lens to ensure that public policies and legislative actions always result in equitable outcomes for everyone impacted.
Economic Development
Disaster Relief
We support the State reviewing and improving on existing laws that support small business emergency recovery funds.
We support the county, state and federal government providing financial relief to businesses as a result of COVID 19, other pandemics, natural disasters, and acts of God that pause or shut down the economic and/or other parts of the government, require social distancing or other aspects that harm the economy, and are detrimental to the conducting of business. We believe that policies and procedures should include the submission of documentation of the loss of financial (revenue and profits) as well as human capital for significant additional support from any emergency recovery funding for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Economic Development
We support the protection of proven, performance-based tax credits that leverage private investment and stimulate employment and economic growth for our region, provide a positive return on investment, and allow us to be competitive with other regions.
We support the enhancement of Missouri Works and the creation of a deal-closing fund to help our state win the most competitive projects. We support updating Missouri’s tax credit system to ensure that state resources are used effectively and efficiently and encourage companies to invest and reinvest in Missouri.
We support protecting existing programs necessary to facilitate economic development by local governments including TIF, CID, and TDD.
We support funding for Missouri One Start to help businesses with comprehensive recruitment and training solutions.
Job Training/Workforce Development
We support funding that will increase educational attainment and workforce readiness to meet the region’s employment needs both now and, in the future, including continued funding for Missouri Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant.
We support policies that will increase the region’s percentage of adults with bachelor’s degrees and other post-secondary credentials.
We support funding for workforce development to meet the variety of training needs of new businesses and the expansion of existing businesses of all sizes, with a focus on encouraging investment in people and talent.
Employment Opportunities
We support all employment opportunities and support services for people with developmental disabilities in Missouri including their choice to work in a Missouri sheltered workshop. We support policies that expand opportunities in the trades and federally recognized apprenticeship programs.
Business Climate
We support the State reviewing and improving on existing laws that support business growth and job creation. These actions can strengthen the business climate in our State without creating additional State government expenses. We believe that when businesses are free from unnecessary regulatory burdens, they are much more likely to grow and create jobs.
We support measures to ensure stability and reasonableness of unemployment insurance and ensure that workers terminated for violations of state or federal law do not receive unemployment benefits.
Small Business and Entrepreneurial Growth
We support policies that stimulate an entrepreneurial culture and enhance the growth of small businesses.
We support assistance to small businesses with high growth and job creation potential, including mentoring, low-interest loans, matching funds, grants, and expansion capital.
Redevelopment
We support initiatives to spur redevelopment efforts in economically distressed areas, such as tax credits for brownfield cleanup.
We support meaningful liability reform for brownfield sites to encourage their turnover to a productive use.
Sustainable Development
We support legislation that creates regional solutions and partnerships to improve neighborhoods in downward transition.
We support legislation that provides for a rebuilding and conservation of assets, while guarding against policies that imprudently use taxes to unnecessarily develop large areas that cause conflict with the sustainability of already established communities.
We support public policy for infrastructure projects which articulates reasonable costs without placing a large financial burden on residents and businesses.
Logistics and Distribution
We support incentives and funding to enhance the region’s logistics, distribution, and transportation infrastructure capabilities, with an emphasis on global competitiveness.
We support infrastructure projects that would significantly grow our region’s economy, promote transportation infrastructure growth, and connect workers to jobs, such as growth at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and Metro transit expansions.
We support the creation of a commission to help in the development of higher speed wireless service for St. Louis County through a coordinated permitting effort with all our municipalities.
Education
Early Childhood Education
We support increased investment in early childhood education, particularly policies which bridge the gap between subsidies given for childcare and the cost of participating in high-quality childcare.
We support policies that expand access to high quality early childhood education programs, especially for at-risk children.
We support a state-wide quality rating system for early childhood programs.
We support funding access for early childhood staff to obtain credentials in child and family development. We support increased investment in specialists and staffing to support children with special needs.
Primary & Secondary
Funding
We support appropriations for public schools enough to fully fund the Missouri Foundation Formula, including categorical funding (i.e. transportation services), and all state-mandated initiatives for education. We encourage the General Assembly to fund Missouri public schools in a mindful and equitable manner necessary to adequately invest in the future of the 900,000 public school children throughout the State.
We support legislation increasing funding for after-school programs.
We support expanding the investment in 529 Match College Savings Accounts.
We support the restoration of full funding for the Parents as Teachers program.
We support increasing the bonding capacity of school districts.
We support all schools accepting public funding for education be held to the same accountability standards.
We support legislation mandating fair and accurate property assessments.
Mental Health in Education
We support increased funding and the creation of initiatives to provide training to schools and administrators that allow schools to utilize the resources available in their communities to provide mental healthcare to students. The growing mental health crisis is having a dramatic effect on students. Resources to address mental health either do not exist or they are fragmented in local communities. Additionally, there is a lack of expertise on the part of educators and schools to know where to begin to address mental health.
STEM
We support strengthening mathematics programs in elementary schools (K-5). Mathematics is the pipeline to STEM careers. If students leave elementary schools prepared for more advanced math programs in higher grades, this will lead to more students entering advanced math courses necessary for STEM pathways; eventually, this will provide professionals needed to meet the high workforce demands in our region.
Autonomy
We support the local autonomy of school districts. Local school districts are in the best position to determine the most effective use of funds and other resources and provide safe learning environments. We support legislation that respects locally elected school board’s authority to govern effectively within their districts.
Flexibility for Innovation
We support innovation for public schools to create more equitable learning opportunities for positive educational outcomes for all children.
We support the goals of the Missouri Assessments Partnership to implement an adaptable and comprehensive assessment tool that accurately evaluates continuous growth and life readiness for student learning.
We support and encourage partnerships between public high schools and post-secondary institutions.
Parochial Schools
We support North County parochial schools and the value they provide to families and communities in North County.
Higher Education
Funding
We support the reinstatement of and an increase of core funding levels for our higher educational providers.
We support the protecting core funding and stable allocations for higher education’s workforce training and skills development programs, especially in the key areas of science, technology, engineering, math. We support expanding manufacturing training, information technology and information systems training, and for programs to provide additional highly skilled workers in the health and mental health care fields. We support equitable funding for higher education sectors and institutions. We support plans to provide capital funding for new construction, for maintenance and repair of existing buildings, and for equipment for both the University of Missouri-St. Louis and St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley.
We support fully funding the A+ Scholarship Program for all eligible students that have earned it.
We support increasing opportunities for dual credit/dual enrollment for high school students.
We support funding for building aligned career pathways to meet current and future workforce needs that includes K-12 public education, Community College System, 4-Year universities, and business leaders.
Healthcare
Funding
We support programs and initiatives that protect the will of the voters and the continued implementation of Medicaid Expansion, ensuring the safety net and increasing accessibility to healthcare for all by eliminating physical, financial, and other barriers that may otherwise prevent individuals from seeking the care they need.
We support full, affordable, and comprehensive access to health insurance, as well as informed choice of doctors, hospitals, and insurance plans. We oppose health insurance mandates that undermine the ability of employers to provide high-quality health insurance at a reasonable cost.
We support adequate and timely Medicaid reimbursement to providers.
We support renewal of the Federal Reimbursement Allowance (FRA). The FRA is the third largest revenue generator in the state of Missouri exceeded only by individual income taxes and sales and use taxes.
Other
We support certificate of need regulations that ensure a level playing field between hospitals and specialty providers.
This passed
We support mandating insurance companies to provide breast cancer screening and evaluation in accordance with American College of Radiology guidelines.
Transportation/Infrastructure
Funding
We support investment in infrastructure that creates jobs, connects where people live with centers of employment and education, and ensures employers have ready access to critical utilities and freight networks.
We support adequate Missouri transportation funding and a formula that reflects the economic strength and development needs of the St. Louis region, encouraging the consideration of economic development and job creation impact when funding future projects.
We support efforts to fully fund the reconstruction of I-270 from Missouri Bottom Road to the Mississippi River. While approved funding for the I-270 project will address several of the recommendations identified in the EA, not all needs are addressed and remain unfunded. Additional funding is critical for to effectively complete this project. Also, the unfunded gap between Riverview and Lilac on I-270 will remain a bottleneck once the Mississippi Bridge replacement is complete.
We support adequately improving the intersection for Riverview Blvd. off I-270 and making necessary roadway improvements on Riverview Blvd. to handle increased demand when the St. Louis Zoo North Campus is fully operational.
We support the implementation and protection of the fuel tax increase that voters approved in 2021.
We support the emphasis on maintenance of existing infrastructure.
We support maintaining St. Louis’ representation on the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and oppose efforts to redistribute money away from the St. Louis region.
We support an all-user ban on the use of handheld mobile devices while operating a vehicle.
Transit
We support policies and funding for Metro services that strengthen equitable access to economic opportunities, promote more effective and sustainable system operations, and advance system expansions and service improvements in accordance with the Long-Range Transit Plan.
We support expansion of the MetroLink from UMSL to STLCC and from STLCC to the North County Transit Center.General Issues
Public Safety
We support efforts to encourage citizen participation in partnering with law enforcement officials for public safety. We support policies to reduce overall crime in the St. Louis region with a focus on measurable and meaningful reduction in the rate of violent crime.
We support significant efforts underway to protect the enormous multi-government investment in Metrolink. Metro has overhauled its Public Safety leadership team, contracted security staff, and operations, and has entered into renewed agreements with all its policing partners. This work must continue to prioritize a more effective law enforcement presence on the transit system through collaborative and community-oriented policing by accredited police departments and all public safety partners must be encouraged to work together to ensure public safety on this critical public transit system.
We encourage all community stakeholders to carefully examine current policies to eliminate all inequities caused through racial profiling in a meaningful and effective way to restore minority community trust in public safety institutions.
We support Emergency Medical Services (EMS) both fire department and hospital-based agencies that provide lifesaving and essential healthcare through the 911 services in St. Louis County. We encourage these organizations to form community partnerships to address needs in education, injury prevention, wellness, and mental health. We support programs that expand equal opportunities for education, training, mentorship, and employment in the emergency medical field.
We support the Regional Fire Departments and Fire Protection Districts that provide essential 911 services in St. Louis Metropolitan Area. We support innovative fire service leadership that addresses the hazards associated in fire/rescue/hazardous materials incidents and complying to minimum NFPA standards. We encourage these organizations to address the needs of their community in education and prevention programs. We support programs that expand equal opportunities for employment in training and educational programs for the fire service.
Tax Structure Review and Taxation for Local Governments
We support financial and tax policies that allow greater flexibility for local governments to adapt to technological and economic changes that impact funding for core services. A new far-reaching tax policy discussion is needed with input from officials at all levels of government to design a system that moves Missouri forward. Isolated changes, especially exemptions with vague benefits, should be avoided. The goal of creating a tax policy that is equitable to all while allowing local governments the needed revenue to maintain quality and mandated service should be prioritized. Objective analysis should govern efforts to offer state tax incentives and exemptions which should avoid financial harm to local governments.
We support legislation that would allow for more efficient methods for enforcement of municipal fines and orders. We would also support a reevaluation of the current fine structure.
Land Use and Planning & Zoning
We support the Legislature supporting local efforts to maintain viable and sustainable communities and allow cities the necessary latitude to set guidelines for land uses that promote responsible development, balances the desires of citizens, preserves property values, and protects the rights of property owners.
We support legislation that would provide all municipalities with the authority to require owners of rental property to provide contact information for responding to questions or concerns about the property. This contact information at a minimum must include the name, address, telephone number and emergency contact information for the owner of the property. Properties that are owned by individuals or entities that do not reside at that location should be required to have a local contact for the property. Additionally, all cities should be granted legislative authority to enact minimal fees for landlords to help defray the costs of a landlord registration program or other issues related to rental properties.
Auto Sales Tax Collection
We support the requirement that automobile sales tax be collected at the time of purchase. It has been estimated that the State of Missouri loses $23 million each year in uncollected sales tax on the purchase of automobiles. This figure does not include the county and local sales taxes that are also not collected.
