Missouri’s 4th District: Counties, Key Issues & Solutions

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Barton County

Issue: High farmland prices make it hard for families to buy new farms. Good cropland now averages around $9,400 per acre.

Solution: Offer state-backed low-interest loans and support land-leasing programs.

Bates County

Issue: Many homes have no fast internet. Over 700,000 Missourians still lack reliable broadband, mostly in rural areas.

Solution: Expand state broadband grants and build community Wi-Fi hotspots.

Benton County

Issue: Harmful algal blooms in local lakes turn water green and kill fish, with DNR warnings increasing in 2024–2025.

Solution: Reduce fertilizer run-off and plant buffer strips along shorelines.

Boone County

Issue: Severe shortage of affordable housing—Boone County still needs 30,000–40,000 new homes by 2045, and construction has fallen behind projections.

Solution: Form an Affordable Housing Trust Fund and incentivize mixed-income developments.

Camden County

Issue: Algal blooms and erosion harming Lake of the Ozarks tourism, with 2025 reports showing increased shoreline damage.

Solution: Strengthen stormwater ordinances and fund shoreline stabilization.

Cass County

Issue: Rush-hour congestion on I-49 impedes commerce. Funding delays in 2025 have worsened traffic conditions.

Solution: Accelerate lane-widening projects and fund park-and-ride lots.

Cedar County

Issue: Risk of rural hospital closures, limiting emergency care.

Solution: Expand critical-access reimbursement and offer loan-repayment incentives.

Dade County

Issue: Healthcare access gaps due to few local providers.

Solution: Create a satellite emergency clinic and establish a telehealth hub.

Dallas County

Issue: Insufficient hospital capacity and specialist shortages.

Solution: Incentivize tele-clinic rotations and expand EMS coverage.

Henry County

Issue: Rapid farmland appreciation pricing out new producers.

Solution: Promote conservation easements and partner with USDA’s Farmland Protection Program.

Hickory County

Issue: Hospital instability threatening maternal and emergency care.

Solution: Secure stabilization grants and train community health workers.


Howard County

Issue: Broadband speeds remain below state averages.

Solution: Map unserved areas, apply for ReConnect grants, and deploy fixed-wireless towers.

Jackson County

Issue: Loss of farmland to suburban sprawl.

Solution: Enact urban growth boundaries and offer density bonuses.

Johnson County

Issue: Gaps in high-speed internet affect jobs and schools.

Solution: Form a county consortium for bulk fiber and add Wi-Fi nodes.

Laclede County

Issue: Physician shortages force long travel for care.

Solution: Expand loan-repayment programs and launch mobile clinic rotations.

Lafayette County

Issue: Farmland inflation undermines generational farms.

Solution: Launch a land trust and offer tax deferments on family transfers.

Morgan County

Issue: Lake pollution harming recreation economy.

Solution: Fund water monitoring and incentivize septic upgrades.

Pettis County

Issue: Risk of rural hospital closure.

Solution: Support critical-access wings and train volunteer EMTs.

Polk County

Issue: Provider shortages and aging facilities.

Solution: Open an outpatient clinic and fund nursing scholarships.

Pulaski County

Issue: Patchy broadband coverage leaves areas offline.

Solution: Pursue middle-mile grants and launch a broadband co-op.

Saline County

Issue: Rising land values limit entry for young farmers.

Solution: Form a land stewardship board and offer down-payment help.

St. Clair County

Issue: Shrinking rural care access from closures.

Solution: Build a health-care network and subsidize transport vouchers.

Vernon County

Issue: Slow or no internet hampers small businesses.

Solution: Create a broadband task force and pilot fixed wireless.

Webster County

Issue: Hospital risk and provider vacancies.

Solution: Secure stabilization grants and add rotational residencies.

Note: I know these aren’t the only issues our communities are facing. I’m working hard to highlight the biggest concerns in each county, but this list isn’t complete. If there’s something important I missed, I want to hear about it.