HCS/SCS/SB 405 - This act establishes Metropolitan Park and Recreation Districts and revises the existing statutes on Regional Recreation Districts.

METROPOLITAN PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT - This act allows for the creation of a Metropolitan Park and Recreation District in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The primary duty of the District is the development, operation, and maintenance of a system of interconnecting parks and trails throughout the counties comprising the district. District membership is subject to approval by the voters of each participating county.

The District is to be managed by a Board of Directors. Members of the Board are appointed by the county executive of each participating county. Members of the board serve without compensation for three year terms.

St. Louis City shall have three members to the Metropolitan Park District board. St. Louis county shall have as many members appointed to the board as all the other political subdivisions combined. Each St. Louis County council district shall all be represented on the board. St. Charles county and Jefferson county shall appoint two members each. Any other county to be included in the district shall be allowed one member.

This act also authorizes funding for the district by means of a one-tenth of one cent sales tax in the participating counties upon approval by majority vote of the voters of the participating counties. Fifty percent of the revenue shall be used by the district and fifty percent shall be returned to the participating counties for local park improvement. A municipal grant commission is established to disperse a portion of the funds returned to the participating entities

Any purchases over ten thousand dollars made by the Metropolitan Park District are subject to competitive bidding. The cost of running the office for the Metropolitan District shall not exceed fifteen percent of the sales taxes collected beginning the second fiscal year.

REGIONAL RECREATION DISTRICTS - The entities participating in a regional recreation district may vote to impose a one-half of one cent sales tax for district funding.

All purchases made by Regional Recreation Districts over ten thousand dollars to be subject to competitive bidding.
ELIZABETH BAX