HCS SCS SB 939 -- LEVEE AND DRAINAGE DISTRICTS

SPONSOR:  Stouffer (Quinn, 7)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
General Laws by a vote of 6 to 0.

This substitute increases the amount the board of supervisors of
any levee district can levy in the form of a uniform tax from up
to $1 per acre of land and each mile of right-of-way of all
public service corporations to up to $8 per acre of land and each
mile of right-of-way.  The amount the board of supervisors of any
drainage district can levy in the form of a uniform tax is
increased from up to $1 per acre of land to up to $8 per acre of
land.

Currently, only owners of 25% or more of the property in certain
drainage districts can petition a court for readjustment of the
assessment of benefits for the property in the district.  The
substitute allows the district board of supervisors to petition
for a readjustment for some or all of the property in the
district as identified in the petition.

The substitute also clarifies that property owners or the board
of supervisors in levee districts can petition a court for a
readjustment of the assessment of benefits for just a particular
part of the property in the district as identified in the
petition.

Drainage districts in St. Louis County are authorized to adopt an
alternative procedure regarding voting rights.  All drainage
districts are authorized to adopt an alternative procedure for
the apportionment of installment taxes after a readjustment of
the assessment of benefits.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on General Revenue Fund for FY 2009,
FY 2010, and FY 2011.  Estimated Cost on Other State Funds of $0
to $4,603 in FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill increases the amount of
money levee and drainage districts can raise to deal with
flooding.  Flooding continues to be a problem for many areas of
the state, and the current uniform tax of $1 per acre of land is
not enough.  The increased levy will allow for greater resources
and administration for landowners organizing as a drainage or
levee district.

Testifying for the bill was Senator Stouffer.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:13 pm