Missouri Revised Statutes § 68.235 - Levy of property tax authorized — vote required — ballot language — repeal of tax
AI-assisted research summary: A port authority may levy a real property tax by resolution, but generally only after voter approval; it may also repeal or amend the tax before expiration, unless that would impair repayment obligations.
68.235. Levy of property tax authorized — vote required — ballot language — repeal of tax. — 1. For the purposes of providing funds to pay all, or any portion of, the qualified project costs associated with any approved project, subsequent to the establishment of a district pursuant to this act, and subsequent to the circuit court's certification of a question regarding any proposed real property tax needed to fund a project, a port authority may levy by resolution a tax upon real property within the boundaries of the district; provided however, no such resolution shall be final nor shall it take effect until the qualified voters approve, by mail-in ballot election conducted in accordance with section 68.250, the circuit court's certified question regarding such proposed real property tax, provided that such resolution shall be final and no mail-in ballot election shall be required where the port authority is the owner of all of the real property within the proposed district. If a majority of the votes cast by the qualified voters voting on the proposed real property tax are in favor of the tax, then the resolution shall become effective. If a majority of the votes cast by the qualified voters voting are opposed to the real property tax, then the resolution seeking to levy the real property tax shall be deemed to be null and void on the date on which the election may no longer be challenged pursuant to section 68.250. The port authority may levy a real property tax rate lower than the tax rate ceiling approved by the qualified voters pursuant to this subsection and may, by resolution, increase that lowered tax rate to a level not exceeding the tax rate ceiling without approval of the qualified voters. 2. The ballot shall be substantially in the following form: 3. A port authority may repeal or amend by resolution any real property tax imposed pursuant to this section before the expiration date of such real property tax unless the repeal or amendment of such real property tax will impair the port authority's ability to repay any obligations the port authority has incurred to pay any part of the cost of a port improvement project. (L. 2010 S.B. 578, A.L. 2013 S.B. 257)