Mike Wilson, Appellant/cross-Appellee v. Larry Walther

Summary

The court held that Wilson had taxpayer standing to challenge appropriations from the General Improvement Fund because the funds included tax-derived general revenues and implicated the state treasury. It also held that the action was not moot as to CAPDD because substantial appropriated funds remained in its possession, and that the constitutional issues warranted review under the substantial-public-interest exception even as to the State defendants. On the merits, the court held that appropriating money simply "for grants" failed to distinctly state the appropriation's purpose as required by article 5, section 29, so it reversed and remanded without reaching the special-legislation claim. Justices Womack and Wood concurred in part and dissented in part, chiefly concluding that the action was moot as to the State defendants and that the challenged appropriations were not special or local legislation.