HB 107 -- WATER SERVICE LINES (Days)

This bill allows St. Louis County, municipalities and counties,
upon voter approval, to levy and impose annually a fee not to
exceed $1 per month upon water service lines providing water
service to residential property having 4 or fewer dwelling
units.  Funds are to be used for repair or replacement of water
lines extending from the water main to a residential dwelling
due to failure of the line or to road relocation.

The governing body of the municipality or county can enact an
ordinance to collect the fees and can contract with any water
service provider in the municipality or county to bill and
collect the fees and bills for water service.

The bill also allows residents of first class counties with a
charter form of government the option to continue purchasing
water from a municipality even if a water district later claims
a sole right to sell water to them.

This bill has an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Savings to Highway or Road Fund of
$0 to $262,500 in FY 2000, $0 to $270,375 in FY 2001, and $0 to
$278,486 in FY 2002.

HB 107 -- WATER SERVICE LINES

CO-SPONSORS:  Days, Foley

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Municipal
Corporations by a vote of 15 to 0.

Upon voter approval, this bill allows St. Louis County to levy
and impose annually a fee not to exceed $1 per month upon water
service lines providing water service to residential property
having 4 or fewer dwelling units.  Funds are to be used for
repair or replacement of water lines extending from the water
main to a residential dwelling due to failure of the line or for
road relocation.

This bill has an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Savings to Highway or Road Fund of
$0 to $262,500 in FY 2000, $0 to $270,375 in FY 2001, and $0 to
$278,486 in FY 2002.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the costs of repairing water
service lines cause a financial burden on homeowners,
particularly, elderly homeowners.  If approved by the voters of
St. Louis County, the annual fee would offset the costs
associated with repairing and replacing water service lines due
to failure and the cost of relocating water service lines caused
by improvements to public right-of-ways.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Days; St. Louis
County Water Company; St. Louis County Municipal League; and
Missouri Department of Transportation.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Joseph Deering, Legislative Analyst

HB 107 -- Water Service

Co-Sponsors:  Days, Foley

Upon voter approval, this bill allows St. Louis County to levy
and impose annually a fee not to exceed $1 per month upon water
service lines providing water service to residential property
having 4 or fewer dwelling units.  Funds are to be used for
repair or replacement of water lines extending from the water
main to a residential dwelling due to failure of the line or for
road relocation.

This bill has an emergency clause.