ST. LOUIS — Missourians will have a voice in shaping the layout of the Lake of the Ozarks when it comes to if or if not they would like to see a casino. A yes means Missouri will grant an additional gaming boat license on the Osage River. A no vote will change nothing meaning no casino.
"It will amend the Missouri Constitution to allow a 14 casino license to be issued specifically to be placed on the Osage River below the Bagnell Dam, which is in the city limits of Lake Ozark," Lake Ozark Mayor Dennis Newberry said.
Newberry is in favor of Amendment 5 on this year's ballot. Newberry said the casino would be operated by Osage River Gaming and Bally's with various entertainment, dining and lodging options.
On the other side, is the Osage Nation, a Native American tribe based in Oklahoma opposes the plan according to their website, they are trying to build their own casino in the Lake of Ozarks called Osage Casino & Hotel.
The measure would also require state tax to be used to fund early childhood literacy programs. That's why a spokesperson for the American Federation of Teachers St. Louis says the union is for the amendment.
"We were asked early on to help write the language of it, which is a good tactic to take with teachers and their representative union," Clemens said.
Clemens says unlike Amendment 2, which the union is against, he's confident the money from Amendment 5 will actually benefit teachers and schools.
"The legislature can change a law kind of easily, they can amend it. You can't easily amend a constitutional amendment. So we feel like it's pretty locked in. So that the money would actually go for what we think is key--early childhood education," Clemens said.
Newberry says economically there is a large benefit to people voting yes.
"That's that revenue is estimated to be $14.5 million for early childhood development in the state of Missouri, which is an amazing number," Newberry said.