HB 144 -- Exhibition Center and Recreational Facility District
Act

Co-Sponsors:  Luetkemeyer, Cooper (155)

This bill creates the Exhibition Center and Recreational Facility
District Act which allows residents of Camden, Miller, and Morgan
counties to request (by petition) that an exhibition center and
recreational facility district be created.  The bill requires
that at least 50 property owners sign the petition.  The petition
must include the name and address of each petitioner and the
location of their property; a specific description of the
boundaries of the proposed district, including a map; and the
name of the proposed district.

The bill states that the governing body of each county included
in the district can approve the creation of the district by
resolution.  However, the district will not be established until
after a public hearing is held and each county within the
proposed district adopts an order establishing the district.

The bill creates a board of trustees to administer the district
and all revenue received by the district.  The board will have no
more than 12 members.  The bill explains how the trustees will be
selected and the powers of the board.  Among its powers, the
board will have the power of eminent domain, the power to condemn
private property within the district, and the power to issue
bonds secured by all of the property and income of the district.

The bill allows the district to submit to voters within the
district a sales tax of up to 0.5% on all sales within the
district.  The revenue from this tax will be deposited into the
Exhibition Center and Recreational Facility District Sales Tax
Trust Fund which the bill establishes.  The revenue collected
from this tax will fund the exhibition center and recreational
facilities.  Twenty-five years from its effective date, this tax
will reduce to a rate of 0.1% unless voters in the district
approve an extension at the rate of 0.5%.  Extensions of the
sales tax cannot be for more than 20 years.  This tax cannot be
abolished or terminated if the district has outstanding debts or
obligations.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:10 am