HJR 32 - This amendment would authorize additional bond indebtedness for water pollution control.

Article III, Section 37(e) established the Water Pollution Control Bond and Interest Fund for the enhancement of the state's water quality. Proposed changes to the existing bond issue remove the ability for moneys to be used for planning and program administration and, further, increase the amount of annual appropriation for rural water and sewer grants from $25 million to $50 million dollars.

In addition to the existing $275 million dollar indebtedness authorized for the Water Pollution and Control Bond and Interest Fund, $75 million dollars is proposed to fund the finance and construction of rural water and sewer grants or loans. The terms of the bond issue is in all other material respects the same as those of the existing bond indebtedness.

A new Article III, Section 37(g) is established for the creation of the Stormwater Control Bond and Interest Fund to fund stormwater control projects in first class counties and the City of St. Louis. The authorized amount of indebtedness could not exceed $225 million dollars, with an annual appropriation ceiling of $20 million and fifty percent of the project cost. Grants from the fund shall be dispersed in proportion to the population of the counties, however, cities within a county that have over 25,000 inhabitants can receive grants directly in proportion to the city's composition of the population of that county.
DENISE GARNIER