So what happens next?

A very happy Monday to everyone. Here it is very cold with a new winter storm expected any minute now. Sorry I haven't posted in almost a week but I developed a really nasty chest cold on election day which laid me out for three days and then it lessened to a simple sinus cold for the next three days, which was actually an improvement. So whatever the bug is that's floating around, I highly recommend avoiding it!

So, on to Weldon Spring matters. Last Tuesday's vote regarding the proposed annexation of the Missouri Research Park passed with 79% of voters approving the measure. Next, the city must go in front of a judge and request a declaratory judgement which would allow the process to be completed. Now this is not a mere formality. The city must prove to the judge that they have something substantial to offer the tenants of the MRP such as increased services, new services, etc. Otherwise the judge will reject the annexation bid as being nothing more than an attempt to expand the tax base of Weldon Spring at the expense of the existing tenants of the MRP.

However there are two sides to every story. There are a number of businesses in the MRP who are very unhappy at the proposal. Nike in particular has been very vocal with its displeasure, accusing Weldon Spring with being less than forthcoming with its efforts to annex the MRP, saying that the city did not inform them the issue was being put to a vote this past election day. In fact Nike has said that the first time they heard of the vote was when a local journalist contacted them four days before the election for a reaction to the upcoming referendum. Nike has gone on record saying that they will oppose the annexation with every means they have available to them.

My guess is the most likely scenario is that the annexation will go through, but following that there will be a number of high profile moves out of the MRP as those companies look for new office space in an area with a lower tax burden.