Perfected

SS/SCS/SB 832 - This act prohibits the use of tax increment financing for projects located in one hundred year flood plains except for river front development projects and projects located within the incorporated limits of a municipality. The act defines the term "Greenfield area" and prohibits use of tax increment financing for certain greenfield area development. TIF projects resulting in the development of solely residential development are prohibited for the development of previously undeveloped or vacant land. Revenue increases realized from the residential portion of the development shall not be deposited in the special allocation fund, but shall be allocated to the various taxing entities as though that area had not been subject to a TIF, the ordinance approving the redevelopment plan is passed by a two-thirds majority vote by the governing body of the municipality.

The act creates the St. Louis City school lead abatement and removal fund to be funded by ten percent of the payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) derived from tax increment finance projects in St. Louis City approved after August 31, 2006.

The act prohibits certain members of the Tax Increment Finance Commission from being employees of the municipality. In the event that the named developer on a project is a jurisdiction responsible for appointing Tax Increment Finance Commission members, then those members shall be excluded from voting on any such proposed tax increment finance project or amendment. If a Tax Increment Finance Commission rejects a proposed tax increment finance project, a governing body wanting to pursue such project must either: 1) place the project before the registered voters of the municipality for approval, or 2) approve the project by a super majority vote of the governing body and allocate one hundred percent of the economic activity taxes imposed by the municipality to the special allocation fund. The allocation of one hundred percent of the economic activity taxes shall be utilized to pay redevelopment costs, defease the obligations secured by the special allocation fund, and shorten the term of repayment.

The act allows for referendum petitions in opposition to tax increment financing projects for municipalities that do not currently have the authority for such a process. Such a petition must be signed by a number of voters equal to at least fifteen percent of the registered voters of the municipality for municipalities with populations greater than five thousand. Petitions must be signed by a number of voters equal to at least twenty percent of the registered voters of the municipalities for municipalities with populations less than five thousand. The petitions must be submitted no later than 30 days from the date of the adoption of the ordinance approving the redevelopment project or plan.

In order for a municipality to receive "Super TIF" funds, the municipality must allocate one hundred percent of economic activity taxes to the special allocation fund.

The act prohibits voter approved tax increases or levies which are approved subsequent to the adoption of an ordinance approving a redevelopment plan and are not the renewal or extension of a tax first approved prior to the adoption of the ordinance approving the redevelopment project from being captured as economic activity taxes by such project unless the tax is levied for the specific purpose of funding or retiring the debt of the redevelopment project or plan. However, existing taxes which are set to expire and are reauthorized or extended are still considered economic activity taxes subject to allocation to the special allocation fund. Municipalities are prohibited from conferring eminent domain power to private entities when a project utilizes both tax increment financing and chapter 353 urban redevelopment incentives.

The act creates penalties for the failure of a municipality to report to the Department of Economic Development with regard to tax increment finance projects. A municipality will be subject to a fine of ten dollars a day for every day of noncompliance. Such fines will be placed into the Missouri Supplemental Tax Increment Finance Fund.

JASON ZAMKUS


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