HB 2483 -- Neighborhood and Community Improvement Districts

Sponsor:  Schoeller

This bill changes the laws regarding neighborhood and community
improvement districts.

NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS

Currently, after any parcel of property within a neighborhood
improvement district (NID) is divided into more than one parcel
and the final costs of the improvement are assessed, all unpaid
final costs of the improvement assessed to the original parcel
must be recalculated and reassessed.  The bill specifies that all
unpaid final costs of the improvement assessed to the original
parcel may, within 60 days of recording proof of the division, be
reallocated.  The reallocation will be effective on January 1
following the division, but only for the newly created parcels.

The reallocation must be done in accordance with the method of
assessment used for the original parcel, as described in the
ballot question or petition which created the NID.  These amounts
will be certified by the designated county or city officer and
will be used for reassessing the newly created parcels.

If the city or county that formed the NID does not reallocate the
assessments on the newly created parcels in accordance with the
original method of assessment and certify this information with
the designated county or city officers within 60 days of
recording proof of the division of the parcel, the unpaid cost of
the improvements assessed to the original parcel will be
reassessed proportionally to each of the parcels resulting from
the division based on the assessed valuation of each resulting
parcel.

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS

Currently, if there are no registered voters living within a
community improvement district, the qualified voters for various
elections are the owners of real property located within the
district from the tax records maintained by the county clerk or
the collector of revenue.  The bill changes the provisions so
that the owners are determined based on the real estate records
of the recorder of deeds where the district is located.

Every district is governed by a board with five to 30 directors.
If there are fewer than five real property owners within a
district, the bill allows the board to include legally authorized
representatives of any business operating in the district.

The bill also specifies the manner in which the directors' terms
will be determined when all directors receive the same number of
votes regarding their term limits.

Currently, each district has all the powers necessary to carry
out and effectuate its purposes, except for powers limited by the
petition approved by the governing body of the municipality which
established the district.  Many of these powers cannot be
exercised beyond the district's boundaries.  The bill allows
several of these powers to be exercised outside the district's
boundaries, including acquiring land; abating public nuisances;
providing assistance to construct, install, repair, or maintain
and operate a variety of public improvements; and contracting for
educational facilities.

Currently, the district has the power to produce and promote a
variety of special events and support business and economic
development activities in the district.  The bill authorizes the
district to conduct these activities if they benefit the
district.

The bill authorizes districts located in a blighted area to
contract with any private property owner to construct any
building, structure, or other private improvement owned or to be
owned by a private property owner.

If no registered voters live within the district, 100% of the
people who own property in the district may authorize a sales and
use tax by a unanimous petition.  The bill specifies the
requirements of the petition and requires that it be verified by
the board of directors.  The district may conduct the election
pursuant to the Comprehensive Election Act of 1977 under Sections
115.005 - 115.646, RSMo, or with mail-in ballots pursuant to
Sections 115.650 - 115.660.  Section 115.005 will not apply to
these provisions.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm