SCS SB 1140 -- PROPERTY TAXATION REVISIONS

SPONSOR:  Gibbons (Sutherland)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Ways and
Means by a vote of 16 to 0.

This substitute requires political subdivisions to provide
additional information to taxpayers prior to the public hearing
held prior to the setting of tax rates.  The State Tax Commission
will oversee the education and certification of all assessors and
certain assessor staff.  The commission is required to perform
periodic ratio studies to determine the quality and level of
assessments of real property for each assessment jurisdiction.

The duty of examining and certifying ratio studies of assessed
valuation is transferred from the Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education to the Joint Committee on Tax Policy.  The
committee will recommend to the General Assembly any legislative
action it deems necessary to achieve accurate assessed values for
real property.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill addresses concerns on
property taxation from testimony presented to the Joint Committee
on Tax Policy.  The bill moves the examination of the ratio
studies conducted by the State Tax Commission to the legislative
branch of government, adds transparency to the property
assessment process, requires the commission to oversee training
of assessors, and provides more authority to the commission for
ratio studies.  The bill will improve statewide accountability to
citizens and the General Assembly.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Sutherland for
Senator Gibbons; State Tax Commission; and Missouri Assessors
Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Karla Strobel, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:47 am