JEFFERSON CITY — Late last week (3-1), the Missouri Senate approved House Concurrent Resolution 8, handled in the upper chamber by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown.  The Missouri State Tax Commission’s December 2011 proposal included an increase in land values for the 2013 and 2014 assessment years for agricultural and horticultural grades 1 through 4.  HCR 8 states the General Assembly’s opinion that these proposed land values are excessive.

Agricultural/horticultural land is divided into eight grades based on its productive use value, with grade 1 defined as the best and grade 8 termed the poorest.  The value for grades 5 through 8 (pasture land, forest land and less productive crop land) remained static, while grades 1 through 4 (the most productive farmland) increased land productivity values by $80, $65, $50 and $30, respectively.

The General Assembly can disapprove any changes in the productivity values by passing a concurrent resolution within the first 60 calendar days of the legislative session.

In 2010, the Legislature passed a similar concurrent resolution (SCR 35) that disapproved of the new values for agriculture and horticultural property filed with the Secretary of State’s Office by the State Tax Commission.

The resolution passed this session has been delivered to the governor.

For more information about bills moving through the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov.  To contact the Senate Newsroom, call (573) 751-3824 or email: newsroom@senate.mo.gov.