67.2000.  Creation of an exhibition center and recreational facility district, petition, hearing, ballot form — board of trustees, powers — trust fund created — sales tax authorization, procedure — dissolution of district (Buchanan, Caldwell, Camden, Clinton, Cole, Daviess, DeKalb, Greene, Jefferson, Miller, Morgan, Newton, and Wright counties). — 1.  This section shall be known as the "Exhibition Center and Recreational Facility District Act".

  2.  An exhibition center and recreational facility district may be created under this section in the following counties:

  (1)  Any county of the first classification with more than seventy-one thousand three hundred but less than seventy-one thousand four hundred inhabitants;

  (2)  Any county of the first classification with more than one hundred ninety-eight thousand but less than one hundred ninety-nine thousand two hundred inhabitants;

  (3)  Any county of the first classification with more than eighty-five thousand nine hundred but less than eighty-six thousand inhabitants;

  (4)  Any county of the second classification with more than fifty-two thousand six hundred but less than fifty-two thousand seven hundred inhabitants;

  (5)  Any county of the first classification with more than one hundred four thousand six hundred but less than one hundred four thousand seven hundred inhabitants;

  (6)  Any county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than seventeen thousand nine hundred but less than eighteen thousand inhabitants;

  (7)  Any county of the first classification with more than thirty-seven thousand but less than thirty-seven thousand one hundred inhabitants;

  (8)  Any county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than twenty-three thousand five hundred but less than twenty-three thousand six hundred inhabitants;

  (9)  Any county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than nineteen thousand three hundred but less than nineteen thousand four hundred inhabitants;

  (10)  Any county of the first classification with more than two hundred forty thousand three hundred but less than two hundred forty thousand four hundred inhabitants;

  (11)  Any county of the third classification with a township form of government and with more than eight thousand nine hundred but fewer than nine thousand inhabitants;

  (12)  Any county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than eighteen thousand nine hundred but fewer than nineteen thousand inhabitants;

  (13)  Any county of the third classification with a township form of government and with more than eight thousand but fewer than eight thousand one hundred inhabitants;

  (14)  Any county of the third classification with a township form of government and with more than eleven thousand five hundred but fewer than eleven thousand six hundred inhabitants.

  3.  Whenever not less than fifty owners of real property located within any county listed in subsection 2 of this section desire to create an exhibition center and recreational facility district, the property owners shall file a petition with the governing body of each county located within the boundaries of the proposed district requesting the creation of the district.  The district boundaries may include all or part of the counties described in this section.  The petition shall contain the following information:

  (1)  The name and residence of each petitioner and the location of the real property owned by the petitioner;

  (2)  A specific description of the proposed district boundaries, including a map illustrating the boundaries; and

  (3)  The name of the proposed district.

  4.  Upon the filing of a petition pursuant to this section, the governing body of any county described in this section may, by resolution, approve the creation of a district.  Any resolution to establish such a district shall be adopted by the governing body of each county located within the proposed district, and shall contain the following information:

  (1)  A description of the boundaries of the proposed district;

  (2)  The time and place of a hearing to be held to consider establishment of the proposed district;

  (3)  The proposed sales tax rate to be voted on within the proposed district; and

  (4)  The proposed uses for the revenue generated by the new sales tax.

  5.  Whenever a hearing is held as provided by this section, the governing body of each county located within the proposed district shall:

  (1)  Publish notice of the hearing on two separate occasions in at least one newspaper of general circulation in each county located within the proposed district, with the first publication to occur not more than thirty days before the hearing, and the second publication to occur not more than fifteen days or less than ten days before the hearing;

  (2)  Hear all protests and receive evidence for or against the establishment of the proposed district; and

  (3)  Rule upon all protests, which determinations shall be final.

  6.  Following the hearing, if the governing body of each county located within the proposed district decides to establish the proposed district, it shall adopt an order to that effect; if the governing body of any county located within the proposed district decides to not establish the proposed district, the boundaries of the proposed district shall not include that county.  The order shall contain the following:

  (1)  The description of the boundaries of the district;

  (2)  A statement that an exhibition center and recreational facility district has been established;

  (3)  The name of the district;

  (4)  The uses for any revenue generated by a sales tax imposed pursuant to this section; and

  (5)  A declaration that the district is a political subdivision of the state.

  7.  A district established pursuant to this section may, at a general, primary, or special election, submit to the qualified voters within the district boundaries a sales tax of one-fourth of one percent, for a period not to exceed twenty-five years, on all retail sales within the district, which are subject to taxation pursuant to sections 144.010 to 144.525, to fund the acquisition, construction, maintenance, operation, improvement, and promotion of an exhibition center and recreational facilities.  The ballot of submission shall be in substantially the following form:

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If a majority of the votes cast in the portion of any county that is part of the proposed district favor the proposal, then the sales tax shall become effective in that portion of the county that is part of the proposed district on the first day of the first calendar quarter immediately following the election.  If a majority of the votes cast in the portion of a county that is a part of the proposed district oppose the proposal, then that portion of such county shall not impose the sales tax authorized in this section until after the county governing body has submitted another such sales tax proposal and the proposal is approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon.  However, if a sales tax proposal is not approved, the governing body of the county shall not resubmit a proposal to the voters pursuant to this section sooner than twelve months from the date of the last proposal submitted pursuant to this section.  If the qualified voters in two or more counties that have contiguous districts approve the sales tax proposal, the districts shall combine to become one district.

  8.  There is hereby created a board of trustees to administer any district created and the expenditure of revenue generated pursuant to this section consisting of four individuals to represent each county approving the district, as provided in this subsection.  The governing body of each county located within the district, upon approval of that county's sales tax proposal, shall appoint four members to the board of trustees; at least one shall be an owner of a nonlodging business located within the taxing district, or their designee, at least one shall be an owner of a lodging facility located within the district, or their designee, and all members shall reside in the district except that one nonlodging business owner, or their designee, and one lodging facility owner, or their designee, may reside outside the district.  Each trustee shall be at least twenty-five years of age and a resident of this state.  Of the initial trustees appointed from each county, two shall hold office for two years, and two shall hold office for four years.  Trustees appointed after expiration of the initial terms shall be appointed to a four-year term by the governing body of the county the trustee represents, with the initially appointed trustee to remain in office until a successor is appointed, and shall take office upon being appointed.  Each trustee may be reappointed.  Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner in which the trustee vacating the office was originally appointed.  The trustees shall not receive compensation for their services, but may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses.  The board shall elect a chair and other officers necessary for its membership.  Trustees may be removed if:

  (1)  By a two-thirds vote, the board moves for the member's removal and submits such motion to the governing body of the county from which the trustee was appointed; and

  (2)  The governing body of the county from which the trustee was appointed, by a majority vote, adopts the motion for removal.

  9.  The board of trustees shall have the following powers, authority, and privileges:

  (1)  To have and use a corporate seal;

  (2)  To sue and be sued, and be a party to suits, actions, and proceedings;

  (3)  To enter into contracts, franchises, and agreements with any person or entity, public or private, affecting the affairs of the district, including contracts with any municipality, district, or state, or the United States, and any of their agencies, political subdivisions, or instrumentalities, for the funding, including without limitation interest rate exchange or swap agreements, planning, development, construction, acquisition, maintenance, or operation of a single exhibition center and recreational facilities or to assist in such activity.  "Recreational facilities" means locations explicitly designated for public use where the primary use of the facility involves participation in hobbies or athletic activities;

  (4)  To borrow money and incur indebtedness and evidence the same by certificates, notes, or debentures, to issue bonds and use any one or more lawful funding methods the district may obtain for its purposes at such rates of interest as the district may determine.  Any bonds, notes, and other obligations issued or delivered by the district may be secured by mortgage, pledge, or deed of trust of any or all of the property and income of the district.  Every issue of such bonds, notes, or other obligations shall be payable out of property and revenues of the district and may be further secured by other property of the district, which may be pledged, assigned, mortgaged, or a security interest granted for such payment, without preference or priority of the first bonds issued, subject to any agreement with the holders of any other bonds pledging any specified property or revenues.  Such bonds, notes, or other obligations shall be authorized by resolution of the district board, and shall bear such date or dates, and shall mature at such time or times, but not in excess of thirty years, as the resolution shall specify.  Such bonds, notes, or other obligations shall be in such denomination, bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such form, either coupon or registered, be issued as current interest bonds, compound interest bonds, variable rate bonds, convertible bonds, or zero coupon bonds, be issued in such manner, be payable in such place or places, and be subject to redemption as such resolution may provide, notwithstanding section 108.170.  The bonds, notes, or other obligations may be sold at either public or private sale, at such interest rates, and at such price or prices as the district shall determine;

  (5)  To acquire, transfer, donate, lease, exchange, mortgage, and encumber real and personal property in furtherance of district purposes;

  (6)  To refund any bonds, notes, or other obligations of the district without an election.  The terms and conditions of refunding obligations shall be substantially the same as those of the original issue, and the board shall provide for the payment of interest at not to exceed the legal rate, and the principal of such refunding obligations in the same manner as is provided for the payment of interest and principal of obligations refunded;

  (7)  To have the management, control, and supervision of all the business and affairs of the district, and the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of district improvements therein; to collect rentals, fees, and other charges in connection with its services or for the use of any of its facilities;

  (8)  To hire and retain agents, employees, engineers, and attorneys;

  (9)  To receive and accept by bequest, gift, or donation any kind of property;

  (10)  To adopt and amend bylaws and any other rules and regulations not in conflict with the constitution and laws of this state, necessary for the carrying on of the business, objects, and affairs of the board and of the district; and

  (11)  To have and exercise all rights and powers necessary or incidental to or implied from the specific powers granted by this section.

  10.  There is hereby created the "Exhibition Center and Recreational Facility District Sales Tax Trust Fund", which shall consist of all sales tax revenue collected pursuant to this section.  The director of revenue shall be custodian of the trust fund, and moneys in the trust fund shall be used solely for the purposes authorized in this section.  Moneys in the trust fund shall be considered nonstate funds pursuant to Section 15, Article IV, Constitution of Missouri.  The director of revenue shall invest moneys in the trust fund in the same manner as other funds are invested.  Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the trust fund.  All sales taxes collected by the director of revenue pursuant to this section on behalf of the district, less one percent for the cost of collection which shall be deposited in the state's general revenue fund after payment of premiums for surety bonds as provided in section 32.087, shall be deposited in the trust fund.  The director of revenue shall keep accurate records of the amount of moneys in the trust fund which was collected in the district imposing a sales tax pursuant to this section, and the records shall be open to the inspection of the officers of each district and the general public.  Not later than the tenth day of each month, the director of revenue shall distribute all moneys deposited in the trust fund during the preceding month to the district.  The director of revenue may authorize refunds from the amounts in the trust fund and credited to the district for erroneous payments and overpayments made, and may redeem dishonored checks and drafts deposited to the credit of the district.

  11.  The sales tax authorized by this section is in addition to all other sales taxes allowed by law.  Except as modified in this section, all provisions of sections 32.085 and 32.087 apply to the sales tax imposed pursuant to this section.

  12.  Any sales tax imposed pursuant to this section shall not extend past the initial term approved by the voters unless an extension of the sales tax is submitted to and approved by the qualified voters in each county in the manner provided in this section.  Each extension of the sales tax shall be for a period not to exceed twenty years.  The ballot of submission for the extension shall be in substantially the following form:

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If a majority of the votes cast favor the extension, then the sales tax shall remain in effect at the rate and for the time period approved by the voters.  If a sales tax extension is not approved, the district may submit another sales tax proposal as authorized in this section, but the district shall not submit such a proposal to the voters sooner than twelve months from the date of the last extension submitted.

  13.  Once the sales tax authorized by this section is abolished or terminated by any means, all funds remaining in the trust fund shall be used solely for the purposes approved in the ballot question authorizing the sales tax.  The sales tax shall not be abolished or terminated while the district has any financing or other obligations outstanding; provided that any new financing, debt, or other obligation or any restructuring or refinancing of an existing debt or obligation incurred more than ten years after voter approval of the sales tax provided in this section or more than ten years after any voter-approved extension thereof shall not cause the extension of the sales tax provided in this section or cause the final maturity of any financing or other obligations outstanding to be extended.  Any funds in the trust fund which are not needed for current expenditures may be invested by the district in the securities described in subdivisions (1) to (12) of subsection 1 of section 30.270 or repurchase agreements secured by such securities.  If the district abolishes the sales tax, the district shall notify the director of revenue of the action at least ninety days before the effective date of the repeal, and the director of revenue may order retention in the trust fund, for a period of one year, of two percent of the amount collected after receipt of such notice to cover possible refunds or overpayment of the sales tax and to redeem dishonored checks and drafts deposited to the credit of such accounts.  After one year has elapsed after the effective date of abolition of the sales tax in the district, the director of revenue shall remit the balance in the account to the district and close the account of the district.  The director of revenue shall notify the district of each instance of any amount refunded or any check redeemed from receipts due the district.

  14.  In the event that the district is dissolved or terminated by any means, the governing bodies of the counties in the district shall appoint a person to act as trustee for the district so dissolved or terminated.  Before beginning the discharge of duties, the trustee shall take and subscribe an oath to faithfully discharge the duties of the office, and shall give bond with sufficient security, approved by the governing bodies of the counties, to the use of the dissolved or terminated district, for the faithful discharge of duties.  The trustee shall have and exercise all powers necessary to liquidate the district, and upon satisfaction of all remaining obligations of the district, shall pay over to the county treasurer of each county in the district and take receipt for all remaining moneys in amounts based on the ratio the levy of each county bears to the total levy for the district in the previous three years or since the establishment of the district, whichever time period is shorter.  Upon payment to the county treasurers, the trustee shall deliver to the clerk of the governing body of any county in the district all books, papers, records, and deeds belonging to the dissolved district.