51ºÚÁÏ

A final deal, which could be voted on Wednesday night, potentially includes $100 million for 51ºÚÁÏ tornado relief, up from a $25 million outlay that Democrats said was not enough.

The Senate had been scheduled to go into session at 10 a.m. Wednesday to vote on three bills related to the Chiefs and Royals plan, but most senators stayed in their offices as the Republican governor’s proposal appeared short of the required number of votes needed to win approval.

Kehoe, the former owner of a car dealership, employed his sales skills in a bid to move the package forward. He met with multiple senators in multiple offices throughout the morning, attempting to close the deal.

Later in the afternoon, his office issued a new outline for the special session that included the additional elements needed to win support. The Senate gaveled in at 5 p.m. to begin their day.

“After productive conversations with members of the Missouri General Assembly this week, we are amending our special session call to allow for additional legislation in the areas of disaster relief, tax policy, and budget investments,� Kehoe said in a statement.

Kehoe is trying to stop the Royals and Chiefs from moving to Kansas when the lease runs out on their stadiums in 2031.

During hearings Tuesday, the Royals said they plan to build a new stadium and surrounding entertainment district totaling $1 billion to $2 billion. The Chiefs are considering $1.15 billion in upgrades to Arrowhead stadium.

Under the tentative agreement, Missouri would make 30 years of bond payments equal to the annual state tax revenue generated by the teams in the year before their application for state aid. Local governments also would have to provide some aid for the teams.

The state assistance would cost taxpayers an estimated $1.5 billion over 30 years.

After hours of negotiations, the new plan will boost the amount of money going to help 51ºÚÁÏ residents pick up after the tornado to $100 million. There also are provisions to help offset insurance and property tax liabilities. Another $25 million will go to other areas of the state facing tornado clean-up costs.

Also in the mix is about $235 million in brick-and-mortar projects that were left on the wayside during the Legislature’s regular session.

The University of Missouri will receive $50 million in state aid for a research nuclear reactor after Kehoe had previously called for $25 million.

On Tuesday, Sen. Joe Nicola, R-Kansas City, said on social media he convinced the governor to include his plan to provide property tax relief, potentially bringing at least some members of the conservative Freedom Caucus on board.

Freedom Caucus members had previously said they wouldn’t agree to the stadium subsidies if there was no tax relief in the overall proposal.

But, the property tax plan, which would be voluntary for counties, could mean less money for local governments and schools, raising alarms among education lobbyists, Democrats and local officials.

A fiscal analysis on an earlier version of Nicola’s bill showed local governments would see a $585 million reduction in revenue, drawing the ire of Democrats.

The package also includes a homestead damage tax credit of $5,000 for taxpayers in areas under a presidential disaster declaration whose homes were affected by storms.

The package evolved as Kehoe scrambled to cobble together enough votes for the stadium plan.

“We appreciate legislators working together to use this as an opportunity to show up for our communities by acting swiftly to help those in crisis, while also making smart decisions that secure opportunity for the future.�

The special session also is costing extra taxpayer dollars.

When lawmakers come to the Capitol on official business, they receive a weekly payout for gasoline and other vehicle expenses of 65-cents per mile.

Senate doormen, who control access to the chamber and assist with the distribution of paperwork, are called in and paid on an hourly basis.

The most notable expense increase comes from a daily check to lawmakers for lodging and food of $142. If all members of the Senate attend each day of a five-day schedule, the cost to taxpayers is $24,140.

When the House comes into session, the weekly cost for food and lodging would jump by more than $115,000.

Although the goal is to finish the session this month, lawmaker salaries will rise to $41,768 on July 1, an increase of 1.7%. The mileage rate also will rise to 70-cents per mile, requiring additional taxpayer funds if the session continues past that date.

In 2022, former Gov. Mike Parson’s successful push to convince lawmakers to approve a package of tax cuts cost at least $164,000. That session lasted nearly a month, but lawmakers were not in session every day.

Updated at 5 p.m.