蜜柚直播

JEFFERSON CITY 鈥� Less than two weeks after Gov. Mike Kehoe approved new caps on property taxes in some 蜜柚直播 counties as part of a Kansas City stadium funding deal, the 蜜柚直播 House is launching its own study of the issue.

In an announcement Monday, House Speaker Jon Patterson, R-Lee鈥檚 Summit, said a 20-member panel of lawmakers will spend the summer and early fall examining 蜜柚直播鈥檚 property tax system.

鈥淭his committee will take a thorough and thoughtful approach to reviewing 蜜柚直播鈥檚 property tax laws and hearing directly from residents and stakeholders across the state,鈥� Patterson said. 鈥淥ur goal is to find common-sense reforms that protect homeowners, promote economic stability and ensure accountability.鈥�

The end result, pending a decision by the governor, could be taken up by lawmakers when they return to the Capitol in September for their annual veto session.

The panel鈥檚 formation is the latest attempt to address property taxes, which are a primary source of funding for local governments, including schools, police, fire and other city services.

A combination of factors has put property taxes in the spotlight, including rising costs of government services, higher housing costs and property reassessments, which occur every two years.

The tax changes included in the stadium funding plan face an uncertain future after they were inserted into the massive package in order to win over two votes from the Senate鈥檚 conservative Freedom Caucus and advance to the House.

The changes, which Kehoe approved, will limit property tax increases in 97 mostly rural counties.

Under the new law, 22 counties could have their property taxes frozen at the current rate, and 75 would be limited to only a 5% maximum increase every two years. The freeze or limitations would need to be voted on by the county鈥檚 residents.

Property taxes could still be increased through a voter-approved levy or if the value of property increases due to renovations or new construction.

Rep. Darin Chappell, R-Rogersville, was among the 鈥渘o鈥� votes on the stadium measure, saying the property tax relief provisions were flawed because some counties are treated differently under the bill.

St. Louis city and St. Louis County, for example, are not included in the property tax portion of the package, while 蜜柚直播 County is included.

鈥淚 believe this bill fails the test of constitutionality,鈥� said Chappell, who is now a member of the new House committee.

Similar sentiments were voiced by other Republicans, who said they believe the plan won鈥檛 survive a legal challenge.

Following the passage of the stadium measure earlier this month, Patterson acknowledged the tax scheme was potentially doomed, but said altering it in the House would have likely meant the demise of the entire package because of the tenuous agreement in the Senate.

鈥淚 think a second vote on Senate Bill 3 would have been impossible with the political climate after that vote,鈥� Patterson told reporters June 11.

The House panel鈥檚 work also will occur at the same time Kehoe has formed a task force to rewrite the state鈥檚 school funding formula.

On Monday, the task force focused on how the two-decade-old formula is based on 2005 property values, resulting in inequities in school aid by districts.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 47% of school funds come from local taxes.

The new committee also will meet against the backdrop of a two-year-old law approved by former Gov. Mike Parson that allows counties to enact a property tax freeze program for seniors.

Patterson appointed Rep. Tim Taylor, R-Bunceton, to serve as chairman of the property tax committee.

鈥淧roperty taxes are one of the most common concerns we hear from 蜜柚直播ans, and it鈥檚 clear that our system needs a closer look,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淭his committee is committed to listening to the people, identifying the problems and working toward meaningful reforms that ensure fairness and predictability for taxpayers in every corner of our state.鈥�

Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, D-Columbia, will serve as the ranking minority member.

Other members from the St. Louis region are Democratic Reps. Mark Boyko of Kirkwood, Jeff Hales of University City and Del Taylor of St. Louis, and Republican Reps. Ben Keathley of Chesterfield, Tricia Byrnes of Wentzville and Jim Murphy of south St. Louis County.

The panel is set to hold its first meeting July 16 in the Capitol, followed by meetings around the state, including one in St. Louis in late July or August.