HCS SCS SB 754 -- EXHIBITION CENTER AND RECREATIONAL FACILITY
DISTRICTS

SPONSOR:  Vogel (Luetkemeyer)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Tourism
and Cultural Affairs by a vote of 18 to 0.

This substitute creates the Exhibition Center and Recreational
Facility District Act which allows residents of Buchanan, Camden,
Cole, Jasper, Jefferson, Miller, Morgan, Newton, and Wright
counties to request, by petition, that an exhibition center and
recreational facility district be created.  The substitute
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 substitute states that the governing body of each county
included in the district can approve the creation of the district
by resolution.

The substitute creates a board of trustees to administer the
district and all revenue received by the district.  The board
will consist of four individuals from each county approving the
district.  The substitute explains how the trustees will be
selected and the powers of the board.

The substitute allows the district to submit to voters within the
district a sales tax of up to one-quarter of 1%.  The revenue
from this tax will be deposited into the Exhibition Center and
Recreational Facility District Sales Tax Trust Fund, established
by the substitute, and will fund the exhibition center and
recreational facilities.  Extensions of the sales tax cannot be
for more than 25 years.

The substitute also authorizes St. Charles County to establish a
theater, cultural arts, and entertainment district to be funded
by a sales tax of up to one-half of 1%.  It establishes minimum
criteria for the formation of the district, including land area
and petition requirements.

The district will be controlled by a board of directors, the
number of which must be specified in the petition.  The board has
various powers, including the power to issue bonds.

Public meetings regarding the formation of the district must be
held before the governing body of the county can put the proposal
to a vote of the people.  If the governing body of the county
approves a resolution to establish the district, a vote is
authorized.  After it is approved, the district will be
formalized by an ordinance from the governing body.

The substitute allows for subdistricts within the district that
can oppose the creation of the district and be excluded from the
sales tax.  The substitute establishes a procedure for forming a
governing body for a subdistrict.

If there are no registered voters in a subdistrict, one or more
property owners who collectively own one or more parcels of real
estate comprising at least a majority of the land situated in the
proposed subdistrict can file a petition with the circuit court
requesting the creation of a theater, cultural arts, and
entertainment district.  The circuit clerk of the county in which
the petition is filed will present the petition to the judge, who
will set the petition for hearing.  The substitute contains
ballot language for the formation and possible dissolution of the
subdistrict.  In the event that a subdistrict is dissolved, the
substitute contains provisions to govern the dissolution.

The sales tax will be collected by the municipality and placed
into a special trust fund for the purposes of the district.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Effect on General Revenue Fund of a cost
of $0 or Unknown in FY 2005, an income of $0 or Unknown in FY
2006, and an income of $0 or Unknown in FY 2007.  This proposal
is permissive and requires voter approval.  No impact on Other
State Funds in FY 2005, FY 2006, and FY 2007.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say the bill is needed because of the
economic benefits and the improved quality of life it will bring
to their community.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Vogel; Don Welch; Whittaker
Builders Association; Tri-County Lodging Association; and Lake of
the Ozarks Convention and Business Bureau.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Robert Triplett, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:16 am