Mo. Rev. Stat. ch. 72

in effect

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.030 Third class cities.

72.030. Third class cities. — All cities and towns in this state containing three thousand or more inhabitants, which shall elect to be a city of the third class, shall be cities of the third class. (RSMo 1939 § 6214, A.L. 1975 H.B. 398)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.040 Fourth class cities - villages may vote to become.

72.040. Fourth class cities — villages may vote to become. — 1. All cities and towns in this state containing five hundred and less than three thousand inhabitants, and all towns existing under any special law, and having less than five hundred inhabitants which shall elect to be cities of the fourth class, shall be cities of the fourth class. 2. Notwithstanding the population requirements of subsection 1 of this section, all incorporated villages as of August 13, 1982, may elect by majority vote of the voters therein to be a city of the fourth class and shall retain such classification at its option. (RSMo 1939 § 6215, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1120) Prior revisions: 1929 § 6093; 1919 § 7613; 1909 § 8527

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.050 Villages - certain towns declared to be, when - villages may vote to become ...

72.050. Villages — certain towns declared to be, when — villages may vote to become fourth class cities. — 1. All towns not now incorporated in this state containing less than five hundred inhabitants are hereby declared to be villages. 2. Any village in this state now or hereafter having more than two hundred inhabitants may by majority vote of the voters therein elect to become a city of the fourth class and shall retain such classification at its option. (RSMo 1939 § 6216, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1120 §§ 72.050, 1) Prior revisions: 1929 § 6094; 1919 § 7614; 1909 § 8528

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.060 May cause census to be taken, when.

72.060. May cause census to be taken, when. — Any city, town or village within this state, now incorporated under the provisions of this chapter, or under any special or local law, as a village, town or city, either of the second, third or fourth classes, as classified in said chapter, and in which the citizens thereof desire incorporation as a village, town or city of a higher class, and believe that since the taking of the last census, state or national, there has been sufficient increase in population to entitle it to such desired incorporation, may, by authority of an ordinance, and at the expense of such village, town or city, cause to be taken a census of its population, and should such census, when so taken, show that the village, town or city taking the same, has the requisite population to entitle it to the right to become incorporated as a village, town or city of the higher class, then such village, town or city may proceed to secure such incorporation as its population may then entitle it to, under and by authority of the provisions of this chapter; provided, that cities or towns that have permitted their organization to become dormant or ineffective, through a failure to elect corporate officers or levy a corporate tax for the two years immediately preceding, may, by a petition of the majority of the taxpayers of such city or town to the county commission, have an enumeration taken and be assigned to its proper class; and thereupon the county commission shall appoint the proper officers for such city or town, who shall hold their office until the next municipal election thereafter and until their successors are elected and qualified. (RSMo 1939 § 6222, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971) Prior revisions: 1929 § 6100; 1919 § 7620; 1909 § 8534

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.070 Election by city or town to become city of different class - village ...

72.070. Election by city or town to become city of different class — village officers to act on becoming city. — Any city, town or village in this state, existing by virtue of the present general law, or by any local or special law, may elect to become a city of the class to which its population would entitle it under the provisions of sections 72.030 to 72.140 , or who may elect to become a city of a class to which it may be eligible as otherwise provided by section 72.040 or section 72.050 shall proceed by passing an ordinance or proposition, and submitting the same to the legal voters of such city, town or village, at an election to be held for that purpose, not less than twenty days nor more than thirty days after the passage of such ordinance or proposition; and if a majority of such voters voting at such election shall ratify such ordinance or proposition, the mayor or chief officer of such city, town, or village shall issue his proclamation, declaring the result of such election, and thereafter such city, town, or village shall, by virtue of such vote, be incorporated under the provisions of the general law providing for the government of the class to which such city belongs. Whenever any village shall elect to become a city of the class to which it is entitled, the officers of such village, until new officers shall be elected and qualified, shall be the officers of such city, with the powers and functions corresponding to the powers and functions of the officers of the former village, the chairman of the board of trustees to act as mayor and the remaining trustees to act as aldermen, with the power to divide the city into wards and to call an election of officers of such city and to submit to the voters of such city in the manner provided by law such other matters or propositions as they may deem proper and as may be authorized by law. Any city eligible for more than one classification shall alter that classification pursuant to the procedure contained in this section. (RSMo 1939 § 6217, A.L. 1957 p. 249, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1120) Prior revisions: 1929 § 6095; 1919 § 7615; 1909 § 8529

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.080 Cities and towns may be incorporated in their respective classes - ...

72.080. Cities and towns may be incorporated in their respective classes — exception, certain cities must comply with boundary change law — exception, Cass County — owners of majority of certain class of property may object to incorporation, cause of action — definition — contents of petition. — 1. Any unincorporated city, town, or other area of the state may, except as otherwise provided in sections 72.400 to 72.420 , become a city of the class to which its population would entitle it pursuant to this chapter, and be incorporated pursuant to the law for the government of cities of that class, in the following manner: whenever a number of voters equal to fifteen percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in the area proposed to be incorporated shall present a petition to the governing body of the county in which such city, town, or area is situated, such petition shall describe, by metes and bounds, the area to be incorporated and be accompanied by a plat thereof, shall state the approximate population and the assessed valuation of all real and personal property in the area and shall state facts showing that the proposed city shall have the ability to furnish normal municipal services within a reasonable time after its incorporation is to become effective and praying that the question be submitted to determine if it may be incorporated. If the governing body shall be satisfied that a number of voters equal to fifteen percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in the area proposed to be incorporated have signed such petition, the governing body shall submit the question to the voters. 2. The county may make changes in the petition to correct technical errors or to redefine the metes and bounds of the area to be incorporated to reflect other boundary changes occurring within six months prior to the time of filing the petition. Petitions submitted by proposing agents may be submitted with exclusions for the signatures collected in areas originally included in the proposal but subsequently annexed or incorporated separately as a city, town or village, although the governing body shall be satisfied as to the sufficiency of the signatures for the final proposed area. If a majority of the voters voting on the question vote for incorporation, the governing body shall declare such city, town, or other area incorporated, designating in such order the metes and bounds thereof, and thenceforth the inhabitants within such bounds shall be a body politic and incorporate, by the name and style of "the city of ______", or "the town of ______", and the first officers of such city or town shall be designated by the order of the governing body, who shall hold their offices until the next municipal election and until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified. The county shall pay the costs of the election. 3. In any county with a charter form of government where fifty or more cities, towns and villages have been incorporated, an unincorporated city, town or other area of the state shall not be incorporated except as provided in sections 72.400 to 72.420 . 4. Any unincorporated area with a private eighteen-hole golf course community and with at least a one hundred acre lake located within any county of the first classification with more than eighty-two thousand but less than eighty-two thousand one hundred inhabitants may incorporate as a city of the class to which its population would entitle it pursuant to this chapter notwithstanding any proposed annexation of the unincorporated area by any city of the third or fourth classification or any home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county. If any city of the third or fourth classification or any home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county proposes annexation by ordinance or resolution of any unincorporated area as defined in this subsection, no such annexation shall become effective until and only after a majority of the qualified voters in the unincorporated area proposed to be incorporated fail to approve or oppose the proposed incorporation by a majority vote in the election described in subsection 2 of this section. 5. Prior to the election described in subsection 2 of this section, if the owner or owners of either the majority of the commercial or the majority of the agricultural classification of real property in the proposed area to be incorporated object to such incorporation, such owner or owners may file an action in the circuit court of the county in which such unincorporated area is situated, pursuant to chapter 527 , praying for a declaratory judgment requesting that such incorporation be declared unreasonable by the court. As used in this subsection, a "majority of the commercial or agricultural classification" means a majority as determined by the assessed valuation of the tracts of real property in either classification to be determined by the assessments made according to chapter 137 . The petition in such action shall state facts showing that such incorporation including the real property owned by the petitioners is not reasonable based on the same criteria as specified in subsection 3 of section 72.403 and is not necessary to the proper development of the city or town. If the circuit court finds that such inclusion is not reasonable and necessary, it may enjoin the incorporation or require the petition requesting the incorporation to be resubmitted excluding all or part of the property of the petitioners from the proposed incorporation. (RSMo 1939 § 6217, A.L. 1971 H.B. 28, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971, A.L. 1989 H.B. 487, A.L. 1993 S.B. 219, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1998 S.B. 809, A.L. 2003 H.B. 166 merged with S.B. 238, A.L. 2007 S.B. 22, A.L. 2008 S.B. 765) Prior revisions: 1929 § 6095; 1919 § 7615; 1909 § 8529 (1976) Held that an appeal from an order of a county court or county council's order relative to an incorporation action under § 72.080 must be appealed under § 49.230 and administrative review under ch. 536 is not available. In re Incorporation of City of River Bend (A.), 530 S.W.2d 704. (1985) A proposed city does not have to have tax money in place in order for an incorporation to be proper. Incorporation of Maryland Heights v. Von Romer (Mo. App.), 687 S.W.2d 600.

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.090 Unincorporated city entitled to become third class city - may incorporate ...

72.090. Unincorporated city entitled to become third class city — may incorporate and adopt commission form, when. — Provided, that any city or town of the state of Missouri, not incorporated, having sufficient population to entitle it to become a city of the third class, in making application for incorporation as a city of the third class, may include in its petition for such incorporation a request that it be authorized to avail itself of the provisions of sections 78.010 to 78.420 , and the county commission, in passing upon such application, shall have power in its order of incorporation to authorize said city to be governed by the provisions of sections 78.010 to 78.420 as fully as if the provisions of sections 78.010 to 78.420 had been adopted by a formal election of the inhabitants of the territory comprised therein; and thereupon such county commission shall appoint the officers of such city provided by sections 78.010 to 78.420 . (RSMo 1939 § 6217) Prior revisions: 1929 § 6095; 1919 § 7615; 1909 § 8529

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.100 City or town situated on county line.

72.100. City or town situated on county line. — Provided, that when any city, town or other area is or may be situated on the county line, and in two counties, the petition shall be signed by a number of voters equal to fifteen percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in the area proposed in each county to be incorporated of such city, town or other area in each county, and presented to the governing body of each county, and designating that each of the two governing bodies equally shall designate the officers therefor. If the governing body of each county shall be satisfied that a number of voters equal to fifteen percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in the area proposed in each county to be incorporated have signed such petition, the governing bodies of each county shall submit the question to the voters. If a majority of the voters voting on the question, of each of the counties in such city or town, vote for incorporation, the governing bodies of each county shall declare such city or town incorporated and the inhabitants thereof shall thenceforth be a body politic and incorporate, by the name and style of "the city of ______", or "the town of ______", and provided further, that appeals taken from the decision of the mayor, judge or other officer before whom any cause is tried, acting for said city, town or other area may be sent to the circuit court of either county wherein such city or town is situated, as may be specified in the order granting such appeal. (RSMo 1939 § 6217, A.L. 1971 H.B. 28, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971) Prior revisions: 1929 § 6095; 1919 § 7615; 1909 § 8529

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.110 Jurisdiction to remain same.

72.110. Jurisdiction to remain same. — The jurisdiction of any city which shall be reorganized under this chapter shall not in any wise be affected or changed in consequence of such reorganization, but such limits, wards and boundaries shall remain after such reorganization the same as before such reorganization; and all laws or parts of laws or ordinances, not inconsistent with the provisions of the chapter dealing with the class into which such city is reorganized, which were operative in such city prior to its reorganization, shall continue to be in force until repealed or otherwise changed by ordinance. (RSMo 1939 §§ 6229, 6606, 6866, 7097, A. 1949 H.B. 2024 § 77.11) Prior revisions: 1929 §§ 6107, 6483, 6720, 6947; 1919 §§ 7627, 7973, 8207, 8398; 1909 §§ 8541, 9144, 9300

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.120 Rights of property retained.

72.120. Rights of property retained. — All rights and property of every kind and description, which were vested in any city under its former organization, shall be deemed and held to be vested in such city upon its becoming reorganized as provided in sections 72.090 to 72.110 , but no rights or liabilities, either in favor of or against such city, existing at the time of so becoming reorganized, and no suit or prosecution of any kind shall be affected by such change, but the same shall stand and progress as if no change had been made. (RSMo 1939 § 6218) Prior revisions: 1929 § 6096; 1919 § 7616; 1909 § 8530

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.130 No incorporation within two miles of existing city, where, exceptions.

72.130. No incorporation within two miles of existing city, where, exceptions. — Except as provided in sections 72.400 to 72.420 , no city, town, village or other area shall be organized within this state under and by virtue of any law thereof, adjacent to or within two miles of the limits of any city of the first, second, third or fourth classification or any constitutional charter city, unless the city, town, village or other area be in a different county from the city or unless the city, town, or village is located within any county of the first classification with more than eighty-two thousand but less than eighty-two thousand one hundred inhabitants, except that a city, town, village or other area may be incorporated within the two-mile area if a petition signed by a number of voters equal to fifteen percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in the area proposed to be incorporated is presented to the existing city requesting that the boundaries of the existing city be extended to include the area proposed to be incorporated and if action taken thereon by the existing city is unfavorable to the petition, or if no action is taken by the existing city on the petition, then the city, town, village or other area may be incorporated after the expiration of one year from the date of the petition and upon a favorable majority vote on the question. (RSMo 1939 § 6221, A.L. 1959 H.B. 207, A.L. 1965 p. 192, A.L. 1971 H.B. 28, A.L. 1973 H.B. 640, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 2003 H.B. 166 merged with S.B. 238) Effective 5-15-03 (S.B. 238); 8-28-03 (H.B. 166)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.132 Signers to state name, address and date when signing petition - time limit ...

72.132. Signers to state name, address and date when signing petition — time limit on petition. — 1. Every inhabitant signing such petition shall state his street address or rural post-office box number and route together with the month, day and year on which he affixed his signature thereto. 2. Every such petition shall be presented to the appropriate county commission or county council within two hundred eighty days following the date on which the first signature was affixed to such petition, or any part thereof. Failure to so present such petition within the foregoing time period shall render such petition absolutely void. (L. 1971 H.B. 28 § 72.136) (1978) Held incorporation petitions containing signatures without giving the date of each signature are not void. Cherry v. City of Hayti Heights (Mo.), 563 S.W.2d 72.

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.135 Resubmission within year prohibited.

72.135. Resubmission within year prohibited. — No such question shall be resubmitted for substantially the same area within one year after defeat of the question. (L. 1971 H.B. 28, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.140 Reorganization to take effect, when - officers hold, how long.

72.140. Reorganization to take effect, when — officers hold, how long. — Any city which may organize under this chapter shall continue as before in every respect with all former rights and obligations until the time fixed for such reorganization to take effect; and all its officers and employees shall continue to discharge the duties of their respective offices and shall hold their offices until their successors are elected or appointed and qualified, except as herein otherwise provided. (RSMo 1939 § 6227) Prior revisions: 1929 § 6105; 1919 § 7625; 1909 § 8539

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.150 Certain adjoining municipalities may consolidate - certain cities to comply ...

72.150. Certain adjoining municipalities may consolidate — certain cities to comply with boundary changes law — consolidation of certain cities, towns, or villages in counties of the first, second, or third classification. — 1. When two or more cities, towns or villages in this state adjoining and contiguous to each other in the same or adjoining county or two or more cities, towns or villages located in a county of the second classification having a population of at least forty-seven thousand but not more than forty-nine thousand which are not adjoining and contiguous to each other but whose combined territory when combined will be contiguous shall be desirous of being consolidated, it shall be lawful for them to consolidate under one government of the classification under which any of them was organized or the classification provided for the consolidated population, in the manner and subject to the provisions prescribed in sections 72.150 to 72.220 . Any cities, towns or villages within any county with a charter form of government where fifty or more cities, towns and villages have been incorporated shall consolidate pursuant to the provisions of section 72.420 . 2. When two or more cities, towns or villages located in a county of the first classification or a county of the second classification that have entered into one or more intergovernmental agreements related to municipal services and are separated by a distance of not more than one mile and are connected by at least two publicly maintained rights-of-way shall be desirous of being consolidated, it shall be lawful for them to consolidate under one government of the classification under which any of them was organized or the classification provided for the consolidated population, in the manner and subject to the provisions prescribed in sections 72.150 to 72.220 . 3. When two or more cities, towns or villages located in any county of the third classification are separated by a distance of not more than one and one-half miles and are desirous of being consolidated, it shall be lawful for them to consolidate under one government of the classification under which any of them was organized or the classification provided for the consolidated population, in the manner and subject to the provisions prescribed in sections 72.150 to 72.220 . (RSMo 1939 § 7829, A.L. 1961 p. 193, A.L. 1963 p. 128, A.L. 1976 H.B. 1295, A.L. 1989 H.B. 487, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 2016 H.B. 1684) Prior revisions: 1929 § 7684; 1919 § 9123; 1909 § 9948

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.153 Cities separated by street or stream may consolidate as though contiguous.

72.153. Cities separated by street or stream may consolidate as though contiguous. — If the cities, towns or villages proposing to consolidate are separated only by a street, road or other public way, or a stream, or vacant land, they may consolidate as though they were adjoining and contiguous by taking in the street, road or other public way, or stream or vacant land as part of the consolidated municipality. The question submitted to the voters of each city, town or village shall include a provision that the street, road or other public way, or stream or vacant land to the extent set out by appropriate description in the proposition shall become a part of the consolidated municipality upon approval of the voters voting on the question. (L. 1965 p. 192, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.155 Consolidation ordinance when initiated by municipality - contents.

72.155. Consolidation ordinance when initiated by municipality — contents. — 1. Consolidation of municipalities may be instituted by the governing bodies of any cities, towns or villages, or any combination thereof, by ordinance, adopted by the governing bodies of the respective municipalities. The ordinance shall contain the following: (1) The names of the municipalities to be consolidated; (2) The proposed effective date of consolidation; (3) The number of votes cast in the last municipal election. 2. The ordinance may contain the name of the municipality as consolidated, the form of government to be adopted and the details of transition, such as which officers will serve, which employees shall be retained, what taxes will be collected, what ordinances will be in effect and similar matters for the operation of the consolidated municipality until the new governing body provides otherwise. 3. The adopted ordinance shall then be filed with the county commission in the same manner as provided for initiative petitions in section 72.167 . (L. 1961 p. 193 § 72.157, A.L. 1963 p. 128)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.160 Petition of voters for election - county commission to order election, how ...

72.160. Petition of voters for election — county commission to order election, how and when. — Whenever a petition containing the signatures of one hundred voters, or fifteen percent of the total number of votes cast in the last preceding election, whichever is greater, in each of the affected municipalities (provided, however, that in the event any affected municipality has a population of less than one thousand the one hundred or more minimum signature requirement shall not apply, and only the fifteen percent requirement shall apply as to such municipality) shall petition the county commission to order the question of consolidation of such cities, towns or villages into one city, town or village, the county commission at the next regular or special term of said commission shall submit the question to the voters. (RSMo 1939 § 7830, A.L. 1961 p. 193, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971) Prior revisions: 1929 § 7685; 1919 § 9124; 1909 § 9949

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.163 Petition for consolidation, contents, verification.

72.163. Petition for consolidation, contents, verification. — 1. A petition for consolidation shall contain the following: (1) The names of the municipalities to be consolidated; (2) The proposed effective date of consolidation; (3) The number of votes cast in the last municipal election; (4) A statement that all signers are registered voters in the affected municipality; (5) The form of government, the name of the municipality as consolidated and the details of transition, such as which officers will serve, which employees shall be retained, what taxes will be collected, what ordinances will be in effect and similar matters for the operation of the consolidated municipality until the new governing body provides otherwise, may be included, but are not required. 2. All persons signing the petition for consolidation shall designate their address opposite their signatures, and said signatures shall be affixed before a person who shall certify, by affidavit acknowledged before a notary public, that said signatures were affixed in his or her presence. (L. 1961 p. 193 § 72.151, A.L. 1963 p. 128, A.L. 1975 H.B. 641)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.165 County commission to submit question, when.

72.165. County commission to submit question, when. — The county commission may submit the question of consolidation when it receives ordinances from one or more municipalities and petitions from residents of one or more other municipalities requesting the submission of the question, if the ordinances and petitions propose the same terms and conditions for consolidation and fulfill the requirements of sections 72.150 to 72.205 . (L. 1963 p. 128 § 72.167, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.167 Approval of municipality of petition by citizens, procedure on - ...

72.167. Approval of municipality of petition by citizens, procedure on — certification to county commission, contents. — 1. When the petition for a proposed consolidation of municipalities originates from a group of citizens within a municipality to be included in the proposal, the petition shall be filed with the governing body of the municipality affected. The governing body of the municipality shall then have ninety days, from the filing of the petition, to study and investigate the proposal and endorse thereon their approval or disapproval. In either alternative, the governing body shall forward the petition with a certification of the municipality's clerk, stating the action taken by the governing body, to the county commission. The certification may, but shall not be required to, contain reasons for approval or disapproval of the petition, but whether approved or disapproved, the certification shall also contain the following information: (1) A statement that the names of signers fulfill statutory requirements as to number, residence and qualification to vote; (2) A statement as to the number and amounts of all bond issues in the municipality, and the amount owing upon each; (3) A copy of the last annual financial report required by statute to be published by the municipality; (4) A statement as to the current tax rate of the municipality; (5) A statement listing the locations of municipally owned real estate, indicating whether improved or unimproved. 2. In the event that the governing body of the municipality shall not take action approving or disapproving the petition for consolidation within ninety days from receipt thereof, it shall be deemed rejected and the municipality's clerk shall within five days forward the petition to the county commission noting the fact in the certification. (L. 1961 p. 193 § 72.158)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.170 Form of ballot.

72.170. Form of ballot. — The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form: Shall ______ and ______ consolidate? (RSMo 1939 § 7831, A.L. 1961 p. 193, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971) Prior revisions: 1929 § 7686; 1919 § 9125; 1909 § 9950

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.180 Consolidation effective, when - more than two cities, vote against, effect.

72.180. Consolidation effective, when — more than two cities, vote against, effect. — If it shall appear that a majority of the votes cast in each one of said municipalities on the question shall be in favor of consolidation, the certificate of the clerk shall be recorded in the journal of the council, board of trustees or board of aldermen of each of said cities, towns or villages, and consolidation of such cities, towns or villages thereafter be consummated. Where more than two cities, towns or villages as provided in section 72.150 , seek consolidation, a majority of the votes cast in any one city, town or village against the consolidation shall not prevent the consolidation of the remaining cities, towns or villages if a majority of the votes cast in such remaining cities, towns or villages are in favor of consolidation unless a majority of the votes in the largest of the cities, towns or villages seeking consolidation is against consolidation, in which case the consolidation shall be deemed to have been defeated. (RSMo 1939 § 7832, A.L. 1961 p. 193, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571) Prior revisions: 1929 § 7687; 1919 § 9126; 1909 § 9951 Effective 7-09-92

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.185 Charter commission to recommend name and form of government of consolidated ...

72.185. Charter commission to recommend name and form of government of consolidated municipality — approval by election. — In the event that the question as voted upon does not contain the name and form of government of the proposed consolidated municipality and the details of transition, such as which officers will serve, which employees shall be retained, what taxes will be collected, what ordinances will be in effect and similar matters for the operation of the consolidated municipality until the new governing body provides otherwise, then the governing body of each affected municipality shall select five commissioners if only two cities, towns or villages are involved or if more than two cities, towns or villages are involved, three or more commissioners from each involved city, town or village, with an equal number being appointed from each city, town or village and not less than ten commissioners being appointed in all, to meet with similar commissioners appointed from the other affected municipalities, the commissioners to study and recommend an appropriate name and form of government of the consolidated municipality and the details of the transition. The commissioners shall recommend the name and form of government of the consolidated municipality and the details of the transition, and, if the question fails to pass by a simple majority in both or all of the same affected municipalities, a new charter commission shall be appointed which shall submit a second recommendation to the voters. If the second recommendation as to name and form of government and the details of the transition shall also fail to pass by a simple majority, the results of the two submissions shall be compared and the question receiving the highest total number of votes in favor thereof shall be considered as having passed by a simple majority. (L. 1961 p. 193, A.L. 1963 p. 128, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571) Effective 7-09-92 (1979) Consolidation ballots shall comply with statutory requirements concerning the form of the ballot and it is not necessary to list the bonded indebtedness of each municipality and how such indebtedness will be retired on the ballot. State of Mo. ex rel. Holly v. Kielhofner (A.), 587 S.W.2d 647.

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.195 Bonded indebtedness of municipalities to become debt of consolidated ...

72.195. Bonded indebtedness of municipalities to become debt of consolidated municipality — when. — Unless otherwise provided in the proposition as voted upon, the bonded indebtedness of each municipality at the time of the consolidation which was incurred for the purpose of purchasing, constructing or repairing local improvements or facilities for the residents of the municipality shall continue to be the debt of the taxpayers in the area of the former municipality and a special tax sufficient to retire the indebtedness shall be levied against the property within the area of the former municipality, but the bonded indebtedness of any municipality which was incurred for the purpose of purchasing, constructing or repairing improvements or facilities which are to be used generally by the consolidated municipality shall become the indebtedness of the consolidated municipality. The question as originally submitted shall list each separate bonded indebtedness of the municipalities and shall clearly indicate whether the tax necessary to retire it is to be levied generally or locally. (L. 1965 p. 193, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971) (1979) Consolidation ballots shall comply with statutory requirements concerning the form of the ballot and it is not necessary to list the bonded indebtedness of each municipality and how such indebtedness will be retired on the ballot. State of Mo. ex rel. Holly v. Kielhofner (A.), 587 S.W.2d 647.

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.200 Elections governed by laws governing bond issue elections.

72.200. Elections governed by laws governing bond issue elections. — All elections authorized in sections 72.150 to 72.220 shall be conducted procedurally in all respects as elections to authorize bond issues, whether bond issues are authorized in affected municipalities or not. (RSMo 1939 § 7834, A.L. 1961 p. 193) Prior revisions: 1929 § 7689; 1919 § 9128; 1909 § 9953

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.205 Three-year limit on elections on petition of citizens.

72.205. Three-year limit on elections on petition of citizens. — No election may be required to be held as a result of petition by citizens of an affected municipality if the petition is filed within three years of the date of unsuccessful election for consolidation. Where an election is held as a result of action originating within the governing body of the municipality affected, no limitation on the number or frequency of elections applies. (L. 1961 p. 193 § 72.165)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.210 Two or more cities may consolidate - procedure.

72.210. Two or more cities may consolidate — procedure. — When two or more cities in this state, each containing a population of less than five hundred thousand inhabitants, adjoining and contiguous to each other in adjoining counties shall be desirous of being consolidated, it shall be lawful for them to consolidate under one government of the highest class under which either of said cities is organized and take the name of said city in the same manner and subject to the provisions of this chapter prescribed for the consolidation of adjoining cities in the same county and furnishing bonds by those petitioning for such elections, the subdivisions of the consolidated city into wards and the calling of an election for officers in such consolidated city shall be done by the respective county commissions of the counties in which such cities are situated and said elections shall be held simultaneously on the same day. (RSMo 1939 § 7835, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971) Prior revision: 1929 § 7690

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.220 Procedure - form of ballot to be used.

72.220. Procedure — form of ballot to be used. — 1. Whenever twenty-five percent of the voters of such adjoining cities in adjoining counties shall petition their respective county commissions to order the submission of the question on the consolidation of such cities into one city, said county commissions at their next regular or special term of said commissions shall order the submission of the question to the voters. 2. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form: Shall ______ and ______ consolidate? (RSMo 1939 § 7836, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971) Prior revision: 1929 § 7691

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.300 Absorption of municipalities authorized (certain third class counties).

72.300. Absorption of municipalities authorized (certain third class counties). — Any two or more municipalities which are adjoining or contiguous to each other on two or more sides and which are located in a county of the third class having a population of not less than twenty-five thousand nor more than thirty thousand may provide for the absorption of the corporate existence and the territorial limits of one or more of the municipalities by another such municipality in the manner provided in sections 72.300 to 72.350 . (L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 1)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.305 Resolution to absorb, contents of.

72.305. Resolution to absorb, contents of. — The governing body of each of the municipalities involved in the proposed absorption shall adopt a resolution which sets forth: (1) The name of each municipality which is to be absorbed; (2) The name of the municipality which will absorb the other municipality; (3) A statement that each municipality being absorbed accepts and will be governed by each and every provision and ordinance of the municipality which is absorbing them; (4) The proposed effective date of the merger; (5) A listing of each separate bonded indebtedness of each municipality which will be absorbed and a statement whether the tax necessary to retire it is to be levied locally or generally. (L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 2)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.310 Election, how ordered.

72.310. Election, how ordered. — Upon adoption of the resolution setting forth the plan of absorption, the governing body of each municipality involved shall order the submission of the question of absorption to the voters of each municipality involved. (L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 3, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.320 Form of ballot.

72.320. Form of ballot. — 1. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form: Shall the municipality of ______ absorb the municipality of ______? 2. If a majority of the voters voting on the proposition in each of the municipalities involved vote for the absorption, such absorption shall be consummated as provided in sections 72.300 to 72.350 and not otherwise. (L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 5, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.325 Procedure for, and effect of absorption.

72.325. Procedure for, and effect of absorption. — Upon approval of the question in each of the municipalities involved, the absorption shall be accomplished on the date contained in the resolutions by the municipality specified in the resolution as the one which is to absorb the other municipalities shall succeed to the corporate existence and the territorial limits of the municipalities being absorbed and the municipalities absorbed shall cease to exist as separate municipal entities. All the property, real, personal and mixed, and all rights of every kind and nature belonging to and vested in each municipality being absorbed shall be transferred to and vested in the municipality which is absorbing the others on the effective date of the resolutions. All debts and liabilities and all other choses in action, and all and every interest of or belonging to each of the municipalities absorbed shall be taken and transferred to and vested in the municipality which is absorbing the others on the effective date of the resolutions. The title to any real estate, or any interest therein, vested in any municipality which is absorbed shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the absorption. (L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 6, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.330 Liabilities or legal actions, effect on.

72.330. Liabilities or legal actions, effect on. — The municipality which absorbs the other municipalities shall assume and be responsible and liable for all the liabilities and obligations of each of the municipalities being absorbed. Any claim existing or action or proceeding pending by or against any of the municipalities being absorbed may be prosecuted to judgment as if the absorption had not taken place, or the municipality which has absorbed the other municipality may be substituted in its place. Neither the rights of creditors nor any liens upon the property of any municipality which is absorbed shall be impaired by reason of the absorption. (L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 7)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.335 Bonded indebtedness, effect on - notice of indebtedness required in ...

72.335. Bonded indebtedness, effect on — notice of indebtedness required in resolution and election notice. — The bonded indebtedness of each municipality being absorbed at the time of the absorption which was incurred for the purpose of purchasing, constructing or repairing local improvements or facilities for the residents in the area of a municipality being absorbed shall continue to be the debt of the taxpayers in the area of the municipality being absorbed and a special tax sufficient to retire the indebtedness shall be levied against the property within the area of the municipality being absorbed, but the bonded indebtedness of any municipality involved in the absorption which was incurred for the purpose of purchasing, constructing or repairing improvements or facilities which are to be used generally by the entire area of the municipality which absorbs the others shall become the indebtedness of the entire area of the absorbing municipality and the area which it absorbed. The question as originally submitted by resolutions and the notice of the election shall list each separate bonded indebtedness of the municipalities involved and shall clearly indicate whether the tax necessary to retire it is to be levied generally or locally. (L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 8, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.340 Ordinances, effect on - corporate existence to cease, when.

72.340. Ordinances, effect on — corporate existence to cease, when. — All ordinances including all ordinances adopted at elections by a vote of the people of the municipality which absorbs the other municipalities shall remain in full force and effect and shall govern in the territory of the absorbing municipality and of the municipalities which are absorbed. All ordinances and the corporate existence of the municipalities being absorbed shall cease to exist and be null and void and of no force and effect upon the effective date of the absorption. (L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 9)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.345 Notice of approval of absorption, who to send and receive.

72.345. Notice of approval of absorption, who to send and receive. — Upon the approval of the question of absorption by the voters in each of the municipalities involved, the governing body of the municipality which is absorbing the other municipalities shall send notice containing the results of the election and a copy of the resolutions of absorption to the clerk of the county in which the municipalities involved are located and to the secretary of state. (L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 10, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.350 Courts to take judicial notice of absorption.

72.350. Courts to take judicial notice of absorption. — After the effective date of the absorption, the courts of this state shall take judicial notice of the absorption and of the new corporate boundaries of the municipality which absorbed the other municipalities. (L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 11)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.400 Definitions.

72.400. Definitions. — As used in sections 72.400 to 72.423 , the following terms mean: (1) "Boundary adjustment" , an adjustment of a boundary between two municipalities or a municipality and the unincorporated area of the county involving all or part of one or more residential parcels in common ownership or an adjustment between two municipalities or a municipality and the unincorporated area of the county involving only public property or public rights-of-way; (2) "Boundary change" , any annexation, consolidation, incorporation, transfer of jurisdiction between municipalities or between a municipality and the county, or combination thereof, which, if approved, would result in a municipality composed of contiguous territory; (3) "Commission" , a boundary commission established pursuant to this section ; (4) "Contiguousness" , territory proposed for annexation in which at least fifteen percent of its boundary is adjacent to the municipality which is proposing the annexation or territory proposed for addition to an established unincorporated area in which at least fifteen percent of its boundary is adjacent to the established unincorporated area; (5) "Established unincorporated area" , an area in the unincorporated area of the county which has been approved by the voters pursuant to section 72.422 to remain unincorporated and not subject to any boundary change except as otherwise provided; (6) "Proposing agent" , the governing body of any municipality which by ordinance has adopted a boundary change proposal or the governing body of the county which by ordinance has adopted a boundary change proposal, or the chief elected official of the county who has authorized the filing of an unincorporated area proposal, or a person presenting petitions for incorporation signed by a number of registered voters equal to not less than fifteen percent of the number of votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election in the total combined area affected by the boundary change proposal. Petitions submitted by proposing agents may be submitted with exclusions for the signatures collected in areas originally included in the proposal but subsequently annexed or incorporated separately as a municipality, although the commission shall be satisfied as to the sufficiency of the signatures for the final proposed area; (7) "Voting jurisdiction" , a city, town or village, or areas of unincorporated territory with boundaries established by the commission for purposes of holding a boundary change election. (L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 1, A.L. 1991 S.B. 402, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1996 H.B. 1557 & 1489, A.L. 1998 S.B. 809, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967) Effective 6-27-00

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.401 Law to be exclusive for boundary changes if commission established (St. ...

72.401. Law to be exclusive for boundary changes if commission established (St. Louis County) — procedure for boundary change — commission members, qualifications, appointment, vacancies — notice of ordinance establishing commission — list of appointees — terms — succession — conflict of interest — boundary adjustment and certain annexations not subject to commission review and not prohibited by existence of established unincorporated area, when. — 1. If a commission has been established under sections 72.400 to 72.423 in any county with a charter form of government where fifty or more cities, towns and villages have been established, any boundary change within the county shall proceed solely and exclusively in the manner provided for by sections 72.400 to 72.423 , notwithstanding any statutory provisions to the contrary concerning such boundary changes. 2. In any county with a charter form of government where fifty or more cities, towns and villages have been established, if the governing body of such county has by ordinance established a boundary commission, as provided in sections 72.400 to 72.423 , then boundary changes in such county shall proceed only as provided in sections 72.400 to 72.423 . 3. The commission shall be composed of eleven members as provided in this subsection. No member, employee or contractor of the commission shall be an elective official, employee or contractor of the county or of any political subdivision within the county or of any organization representing political subdivisions or officers or employees of political subdivisions. Each of the appointing authorities described in subdivisions (1) to (3) of this subsection shall appoint persons who shall be residents of their respective locality so described. The appointing authority making the appointments shall be: (1) The chief elected officials of all municipalities wholly within the county which have a population of more than twenty thousand persons, who shall name two members to the commission as prescribed in this subsection each of whom is a resident of a municipality within the county of more than twenty thousand persons; (2) The chief elected officials of all municipalities wholly within the county which have a population of twenty thousand or less but more than ten thousand persons, who shall name one member to the commission as prescribed in this subsection who is a resident of a municipality within the county with a population of twenty thousand or less but more than ten thousand persons; (3) The chief elected officials of all municipalities wholly within the county which have a population of ten thousand persons or less, who shall name one member to the commission as prescribed in this subsection who is a resident of a municipality within the county with a population of ten thousand persons or less; (4) An appointive body consisting of the director of the county department of planning, the president of the municipal league of the county, one additional person designated by the county executive, and one additional person named by the board of the municipal league of the county, which appointive body, acting by a majority of all of its members, shall name three members of the commission who are residents of the county; and (5) The county executive of the county, who shall name four members of the commission, three of whom shall be from the unincorporated area of the county and one of whom shall be from the incorporated area of the county. The seat of a commissioner shall be automatically vacated when the commissioner changes his or her residence so as to no longer conform to the terms of the requirements of the commissioner's appointment. The commission shall promptly notify the appointing authority of such change of residence. 4. Upon the passage of an ordinance by the governing body of the county establishing a boundary commission, the governing body of the county shall, within ten days, send by United States mail written notice of the passage of the ordinance to the chief elected official of each municipality wholly or partly in the county. 5. Each of the appointing authorities described in subdivisions (1) to (4) of subsection 3 of this section shall meet within thirty days of the passage of the ordinance establishing the commission to compile its list of appointees. Each list shall be delivered to the county executive within forty-one days of the passage of such ordinance. The county executive shall appoint members within forty-five days of the passage of the ordinance. If a list is not submitted by the time specified, the county executive shall appoint the members using the criteria of subsection 3 of this section before the sixtieth day from the passage of the ordinance. At the first meeting of the commission appointed after the effective date of the ordinance, the commissioners shall choose by lot the length of their terms. Three shall serve for one year, two for two years, two for three years, two for four years, and two for five years. All succeeding commissioners shall serve for five years. Terms shall end on December thirty-first of the respective year. No commissioner shall serve more than two consecutive full terms. Full terms shall include any term longer than two years. 6. When a member's term expires, or if a member is for any reason unable to complete such member's term, the respective appointing authority shall appoint such member's successor. Each appointing authority shall act to ensure that each appointee is secured accurately and in a timely manner, when a member's term expires or as soon as possible when a member is unable to complete such member's term. A member whose term has expired shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. 7. The commission, its employees and subcontractors shall be subject to the regulation of conflicts of interest as defined in sections 105.450 to 105.496 and to the requirements for open meetings and records under chapter 610 . 8. Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, any boundary adjustment approved by the residential property owners and the governing bodies of the affected municipalities or the county, if involved, and any voluntary annexation approved by municipal ordinance provided that the municipality owns the area to be annexed, that the area is contiguous with the municipality, and that the area is utilized only for parks and recreation purposes, shall not be subject to commission review. Such a boundary adjustment or annexation is not prohibited by the existence of an established unincorporated area. 9. Any annexation of property or defined areas of properties approved by a majority of property owners residing thereon and by ordinance of any municipality that is a service provider for both the water and sanitary sewer within the municipality shall be effective as provided in the annexation ordinance and shall not be subject to commission review. Such annexation shall not be prohibited by the existence of an established unincorporated area. (L. 1991 S.B. 402, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1996 H.B. 1557 & 1489, A.L. 1998 S.B. 809, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967, A.L. 2012 S.B. 665, A.L. 2015 H.B. 511) (1994) Where legislature intended statutory provision to apply only to particular county, statutes violate Art. VI, Sec. 8, Mo. Const. which provides that laws applicable to any county shall apply to all counties of same classification. State of Missouri ex rel. City of Ellisville and Committee for Incorporation, et al. v. St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners, et al., 877 S.W.2d 620 (Mo. en banc).

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.402 Rules and regulations, commission shall promulgate - procedure.

72.402. Rules and regulations, commission shall promulgate — procedure. — The commission shall enact and adopt all rules, regulations and procedures that are reasonably necessary to achieve the objectives of sections 72.400 to 72.423 no sooner than twenty-seven calendar days after notifying all municipalities and the county of the proposed rule, regulation or procedure enactment or change. Notice may be given by ordinary mail or by publishing in at least one newspaper of general circulation qualified to publish legal notices. No new or amended rule, regulation or procedure shall apply retroactively to any boundary change or unincorporated area proposal pending before the commission. (L. 1991 S.B. 402, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967) Effective 6-27-00

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.403 Powers and duties of commission to review all boundary changes - no changes ...

72.403. Powers and duties of commission to review all boundary changes — no changes submitted to commission until April 15, 2001, exceptions, procedures — plan of intent — notice, publication of — approval of change, factors to be considered — commission may provide advice to proposing agents. — 1. The commission shall review all proposed boundary changes of any area wholly or partially within the county. After June 27, 2000, no boundary change or unincorporated area proposal shall be submitted to or considered by the commission until April 15, 2001, except for consolidations. Any boundary change or unincorporated area proposal pending before the commission on June 27, 2000, shall be suspended on June 27, 2000, and shall be further considered after April 15, 2001, only if such proposal is reflected in a map plan submitted to the commission pursuant to section 72.423 , except an annexation proposal by a village with a population under three thousand five hundred where the initial public hearing will occur prior to July 1, 1999, such proposal shall continue notwithstanding other provisions of law to the contrary. Review shall begin no later than thirty days after the plan of intent for the boundary change has been submitted to the commission by the proposing agent or thirty days after April 15, 2001, for boundary changes or unincorporated area proposals which are pending on June 27, 2000. The plan of intent shall address the criteria set forth in subsection 3 of this section. For the purposes of this subsection, the term "pending" means any proposal submitted to the commission which has not yet been approved by the commission as a simplified annexation or approved for submission to the qualified voters of the voting jurisdictions. No simplified boundary change involving territory already described in an annexation resolution or incorporation petition filed with the commission shall occur unless the annexation or incorporation proposal has been disapproved by the commission or defeated by voters. If more than one proposed change is received from the same proposing agency, the review of each additional proposed change shall begin not later than thirty days after the date that review was commenced for the next preceding proposed change or thirty days after receipt of the proposed changes were received by the commission; except that, if more than one proposed change is received by the commission from the same proposing agency on the same date, the commission may establish the order of review. 2. When a boundary change proposal has been submitted to the commission, the commission shall, within twenty-one days of receipt of such proposal, publish notice of such proposal and the date of the public hearing thereon in at least one newspaper of general circulation qualified to publish legal notices. Within twenty-one days of receipt of such proposal, the commission shall also mail written notification of such proposal and public hearing date to the county clerk, and to the city or village clerk of each municipality or village, and to any other political subdivision which, in the opinion of the commission, is materially affected by the proposal. The costs of publication and notification shall be borne by the proposing agent. The commission shall hold such public hearing concerning the proposal not less than fourteen nor more than sixty days after such publication and notification are complete. At such public hearing, the county, the proposing agent and affected municipalities shall be parties, and any other interested person, corporation, or political subdivision may also present evidence regarding the proposed boundary change. A boundary change proposal which has been disapproved by the commission and which is resubmitted with changes to the commission shall be subject to the public hearing requirement of this section, unless the commission determines that a public hearing on the resubmitted proposal is not necessary to achieve the objectives of sections 72.400 to 72.423 . 3. In reviewing any proposed boundary change, the commission shall approve such proposal if it finds that the boundary change will be in the best interest of the municipality or municipalities and unincorporated territories affected by the proposal and the areas of the county next to such proposed boundary. In making its determination, the commission shall consider the following factors: (1) The impact, including but not limited to the impact on the tax base or on the ability to raise revenue, of such proposal on: (a) The area subject to the proposed boundary change and its residents; (b) The existing municipality or municipalities, if any, proposing the boundary change and the residents thereof; (c) Adjoining areas not involved in the boundary change and the residents thereof; and (d) The entire geographic area of the county and its residents; (2) A legal description of the area to be annexed, incorporated, consolidated, or subject to the transfer of jurisdiction; (3) The creation of logical and reasonable municipal boundaries in the county, and for such purpose the commission shall have the ability to make additions, deletions and modifications which address legal boundaries, technical or service delivery problems or boundaries which overlap those of other proposals; however, such additions, deletions and modifications shall not make substantial changes to any proposed boundary petition; (4) The present level of major services provided by the municipality or other provider, provided to the unincorporated area by the county, and proposed to be provided by the annexing municipality or municipality to be incorporated or consolidated, including, but not limited to, police protection, fire protection, water and sewer systems, street maintenance, utility agreements, parks, recreation, and refuse collections; (5) A proposed time schedule whereby the municipality or proposed municipality plans to provide such services to the residents of the area to be annexed, incorporated or consolidated within three years from the date the municipal boundary change is to become effective; (6) The current tax rates of the areas subject to the proposal; (7) What sources of revenue other than property tax are collected or are proposed to be collected by the municipality or proposed municipality; (8) The extraordinary effect the boundary change will have on the distribution of tax resources in the county; (9) How the municipality or proposed municipality proposes to zone any area not presently incorporated; (10) The compactness of the area subject to such proposal; (11) When the proposed boundary change shall become effective. 4. The provisions of section 71.910 shall not apply to a proposing agent proceeding before the commission. 5. Nothing in sections 72.400 to 72.423 shall be construed to prevent the boundary commission or its staff from advising proposing agents on issues related to proposals. The commission may meet informally, subject to the requirements of chapter 610 , with the representatives of municipalities, other government entities or county residents with regard to future boundary changes. (L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 2, A.L. 1991 S.B. 402, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967) Effective 6-27-00

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.405 Boundary changes, approval or disapproval - commission may modify proposal ...

72.405. Boundary changes, approval or disapproval — commission may modify proposal — minor corrections allowed, when — simplified boundary change, procedure — noncontiguous boundary changes, required proposals — prohibited boundary changes, exception — proposing agent may modify proposal — commission may defer final action until after election, when. — 1. For any proposed boundary change submitted after August 28, 1995, the commission shall issue a finding approving or disapproving such proposals within nine months after such submittal, except that final action may be deferred on part or all of a boundary change proposal when necessary to accommodate an overlapping boundary change or unincorporated area proposal as more particularly provided in subsection 10 of this section. If the commission finds in favor of a proposed boundary change, it shall submit the question to the voters residing within the areas subject to the proposed boundary change, except as provided in subsection 6 of this section. 2. If a boundary change is proposed by a municipality or the county and if the commission finds against the proposed boundary change submitted by a municipality or the county, it shall disapprove the boundary change proposal. In disapproving any boundary change proposal, the commission shall issue a document indicating the reasons such proposal was disapproved. No election shall be held on any such proposal not approved by the commission. 3. If the boundary change is an incorporation proposed pursuant to a petition, the commission may make such changes in the proposal as it finds would result in an acceptable proposal, such changes to include but not be limited to additions, deletions or the modification of a proposal which contains boundaries which overlap those boundaries contained in any other proposal. After submittal, the commission may allow the proposing agent to make minor additions, deletions or modifications which do not substantially alter the proposal. When reviewing more than one boundary change proposal made by petition, the commission may consolidate two or more unincorporated areas into one proposed boundary change. Any changes made by the commission shall meet the criteria established pursuant to section 72.403 . 4. Where a proposal submitted by a municipality, the county or by a petition, contains more than two voting jurisdictions, the commission may provide for approval of a boundary change comprising only those municipalities and unincorporated area where a majority of voters approve the boundary change if the resulting municipality would meet the criteria established pursuant to section 72.403 . 5. If a boundary change is proposed by a municipality or the county and the commission determines that there is a minor error or discrepancy in the legal descriptions of the areas subject to the proposal as submitted by the municipality or county, then the commission with the concurrence of the proposing agent may make such changes to the proposal as are necessary to rectify the error in the legal description. 6. A simplified boundary change may be proposed by: (1) A verified petition signed by seventy-five percent of the registered voters within the area proposed to be annexed which is predominately residential in character and has an average residential density of not less than one dwelling per three acres which is filed by the annexing municipality; or (2) Two municipalities for a transfer of jurisdiction between them or a municipality and the county for a transfer of jurisdiction between a municipality and the county. Within twenty-one days of receipt of a proposal pursuant to this subsection, the commission shall publish notice of such proposal and the date of the public hearing thereon in at least one newspaper of general circulation qualified to publish legal notices. The commission shall, within twenty-one days of receipt of such proposal, mail written notification of such proposal and the date of the public hearing thereon to the county clerk, and to the city or village clerk of each municipality or village, and to any other political subdivision which, in the opinion of the commission, is materially affected by such proposal. The commission shall hold a public hearing concerning the matter not less than fourteen nor more than sixty days after such publication and notification is complete. At the public hearing any interested person, corporation or political subdivision may present evidence regarding the proposed boundary change. Within four months of receipt of the proposal, the commission shall determine whether to disapprove the proposal, or to approve the proposal and allow it to proceed as an approved boundary change to be adopted or rejected by the voters pursuant to section 72.407 , or to approve the proposal as a simplified boundary change, for which no vote shall be required, except that final action may be deferred on part or all of a simplified boundary change proposal when necessary to accommodate an overlapping boundary change or unincorporated area proposal as more particularly provided in subsection 10 of this section. In making its determination, the commission shall consider the factors set forth in subsection 3 of section 72.403 . If the commission determines that the proposal should be approved as a simplified boundary change, such proposal shall become effective upon the date set forth in the commission's written report of approval. 7. A municipality which wishes to propose a boundary change containing two or more unincorporated areas that are noncontiguous to each other shall submit separate proposals for the unincorporated areas that are noncontiguous to each other, in which case there shall be a separate vote for each proposal approved by the commission. The municipality may: (1) Adopt and submit separate ordinances for each such separate proposal; or (2) Adopt and submit one ordinance containing said separate proposals, which ordinance shall clearly state that the municipality is making multiple, separate proposals, and is desirous of separate votes for each separate proposal. The ordinance shall also clearly identify each separate proposal that the municipality is making. 8. The commission shall not approve any boundary change proposal in which more than fifty percent of the combined land subject to the proposal is unincorporated territory or territories unless the area subject to the proposal has a population of more than ten thousand persons. 9. A proposing agent may modify its proposal and submit additional information during the review period. 10. The commission may defer final action on part or all of a boundary change proposal or proposal for an established unincorporated area beyond the periods provided for their consideration in order to allow an election with respect to an overlapping boundary change or unincorporated area proposal in order to maximize the ability of voters to determine their own status. Such deferral may be ordered only when the proposal granted such priority is filed with the commission no later than sixty days after the proposal on which action will be deferred and only when the commission determines that the population of the overlapping area is a greater proportion of the proposal given priority than of the proposal on which action is deferred. The commission shall take final action on the deferred proposal within forty-five days of the election at which the proposal granted priority is decided. The proposing agent may modify the proposal in accordance with the results of the election. (L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 3 subsecs. 1 to 5, A.L. 1991 S.B. 402, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1998 S.B. 809, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967) Effective 6-27-00

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.407 Adoption of boundary change by voters, procedure - unincorporated pocket ...

72.407. Adoption of boundary change by voters, procedure — unincorporated pocket defined — cost of election, how paid — proposal concerning annexation and incorporation not to be submitted at same election, election void, when. — 1. Boundary changes may be adopted by the voters in the following manner: (1) If the commission approves a proposed boundary change containing more than one municipality and no unincorporated areas, such proposal shall be adopted if a separate majority of the votes cast on the question in each municipality are in favor of the boundary change, except as provided in subsection 4 of section 72.405 ; (2) If the commission approves a proposed boundary change containing one or more municipalities and at least one unincorporated area, such proposal shall be adopted if a separate majority of the votes cast on the question in each municipality and a separate majority of votes cast in each voting jurisdiction comprising unincorporated areas of the county are in favor of the boundary change, except as provided in subsection 4 of section 72.405 . If a voting jurisdiction comprising unincorporated areas of the county has no residents or if no votes are cast for or against the boundary change, such boundary change shall become effective if a majority of the votes cast in all other voting jurisdictions and municipalities are in favor of the boundary change. If the commission approves a proposed boundary change containing one or more municipalities and at least one unincorporated area which is classified as an unincorporated pocket, such proposal shall be adopted if a separate majority of the votes cast on the question in each municipality and a majority of votes cast in the whole municipality which would result from the boundary change are in favor of the boundary change, except as provided in subsection 4 of section 72.405 . As used in this subdivision, the term "unincorporated pocket" means an unincorporated territory with an average residential density in excess of one dwelling per three acres, which has a population of no more than five hundred, which is accessible by public or private roadway only from incorporated jurisdictions and/or another county, and which the commission has determined presents practical difficulties for service by the county by reason of its isolation. 2. Any election held pursuant to sections 72.400 to 72.423 shall be held on a date established by the commission in accordance with the provisions of chapter 115 . If the proposing agent is a petitioner or the governing body of the county, all costs of the election shall be paid by the county. If the proposing agent is the governing body of any municipality, the cost of such election in each municipality shall be paid by each municipality and if the proposal contains any unincorporated territory the cost of the election in the unincorporated territory shall be paid by the county. 3. Questions concerning the annexation of an area covered by sections 72.400 to 72.423 and the incorporation of the same area shall not be put to the voters at the same election. Any such election where the questions of annexation and incorporation have been put to the voters shall be void in the area covered by both propositions. This subsection shall not affect the results of that election in areas where both questions were not put to the voters at the same time. When boundary change proposals for annexation and for incorporation cover the same area, the proposal for annexation shall be put to the voters first. (L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 3 subsecs. 6, 7, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1998 S.B. 809, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967) Effective 6-27-00

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.408 Limitation on resubmission - void petition, when.

72.408. Limitation on resubmission — void petition, when. — 1. If a boundary change is disapproved by the voters, no boundary change which contains more than sixty percent of the area of the disapproved boundary change shall be submitted to or processed by the commission any sooner than two years after the date of the disapproved boundary change. 2. Every petition shall be presented to the commission within two hundred eighty days following the date on which the first signature was affixed to the petition, or any part thereof, except that the period of time from June 14, 1999, to April 15, 2001, shall be excluded. Failure to present a petition within the foregoing time period shall render the petition absolutely void. (L. 1998 S.B. 809, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967) Effective 6-27-00

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.409 Boundary change, effective when - transition committee established, ...

72.409. Boundary change, effective when — transition committee established, members, how selected — to disband when delay in declaring new incorporated municipality, when — conflict of laws, this section to prevail. — 1. If a proposed boundary change is approved by the voters, such proposal shall be effective six months following the date of the election or the date specified in such proposal, whichever date is later. Immediately following the certification of the election, the commission shall establish a committee to determine the details of the transition. The governing body of each affected municipality shall select two members and the governing body of the county in which each unincorporated territory is situated shall select two members from the affected unincorporated territory to meet with similar members appointed from other affected municipalities and the unincorporated territory. The committee shall disband no later than the date the boundary change becomes effective. The governing body of the county may delay declaring a newly incorporated municipality for a period not to exceed six months at the request of the boundary commission to provide for an orderly transition from unincorporated to incorporated status. 2. If a conflict shall exist between the provisions of sections 72.400 to 72.423 and the orders, ordinances or charters of any statutory or charter cities affected by sections 72.400 to 72.423 , the provisions of sections 72.400 to 72.423 shall prevail. 3. If a boundary change involves an annexation, failure of the proposing agent to provide services to the area being annexed or to zone in compliance with the plan of intent required of the proposing agent within three years of the boundary change becoming effective, unless compliance is made unreasonable, shall give rise to a cause of action for deannexation which may be filed in the circuit court by any resident who was residing in the area at the time the boundary change became effective. (L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 3 subsecs. 8, 9, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967) Effective 6-27-00

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.412 Commission independent of county - budget request, appropriation level - ...

72.412. Commission independent of county — budget request, appropriation level — application fee for annexation, use. — 1. The commission, once established, shall not be a county commission but shall act as an independent commission. The commission may hire such staff and acquire such facilities as it finds necessary to carry out its duties. 2. The commission shall submit a budget requesting the funds necessary to carry out its duties pursuant to sections 72.400 to 72.423 . The county shall appropriate and provide a reasonable and necessary level of funding for the commission to carry out its statutory duties. In addition, the county shall upon request provide petitioners with such available information as may be necessary to develop a plan of intent. Funding must provide for at least one professional staff person, one attorney or the equivalent funds for legal services, and clerical support for the professional staff and attorney. All salary levels shall be based upon the personnel system in use for county employees. 3. The commission shall provide by rule for an application fee for municipal annexations in the amount of one dollar per resident of the proposed annexation area to defray the commission's cost of processing and reviewing proposals. (L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 4, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967) Effective 6-27-00

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.414 Approval of change, governing body to declare a municipality and designate ...

72.414. Approval of change, governing body to declare a municipality and designate metes and bounds — first officers designated by governing body. — If the approval of the boundary change creates a new municipality, the governing body of the county shall declare such municipality, designating in such order the metes and bounds thereof, and henceforth the inhabitants within such bounds shall be a body politic and incorporate, by the name and style of "the city of ______" and the first officers of such city shall be designated by the order of the governing body of the county, and they shall hold their offices until the next municipal election and until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified. (L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 5, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571) Effective 7-9-92

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.416 Civil actions against commission, who may bring, cost and attorneys fees ...

72.416. Civil actions against commission, who may bring, cost and attorneys fees paid to commission, when. — The county, an interested municipality, or any other interested party may bring an appropriate civil action against the commission regarding a proposed boundary change, unincorporated area proposal, or other commission action or failure to act. In any civil action brought against the commission regarding a proposed boundary change, if the commission prevails in the action, the court may require the party who initiated the action to pay to the commission the reasonable costs incurred by the commission in opposing the action, including attorney's fees. (L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 6, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967) Effective 6-27-00

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.418 New city not to provide fire services, when - annexation, continuation of ...

72.418. New city not to provide fire services, when — annexation, continuation of services — city to pay fire protection district, amount — voting provisions. — 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no new city created pursuant to sections 72.400 to 72.423 shall establish a municipal fire department to provide fire protection services, including emergency medical services, if such city formerly consisted of unincorporated areas in the county or municipalities in the county, or both, which are provided fire protection services and emergency medical services by one or more fire protection districts. Such fire protection districts shall continue to provide services to the area comprising the new city and may levy and collect taxes the same as such districts had prior to the creation of such new city. 2. Fire protection districts serving the area included within any annexation by a city having a fire department, including simplified boundary changes, shall continue to provide fire protection services, including emergency medical services to such area. The annexing city shall pay annually to the fire protection district an amount equal to that which the fire protection district would have levied on all taxable property within the annexed area. Such annexed area shall not be subject to taxation for any purpose thereafter by the fire protection district except for bonded indebtedness by the fire protection district which existed prior to the annexation. The amount to be paid annually by the municipality to the fire protection district pursuant hereto shall be a sum equal to the annual assessed value multiplied by the annual tax rate as certified by the fire protection district to the municipality, including any portion of the tax created for emergency medical service provided by the district, per one hundred dollars of assessed value in such area. The tax rate so computed shall include any tax on bonded indebtedness incurred subsequent to such annexation, but shall not include any portion of the tax rate for bonded indebtedness incurred prior to such annexation. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the residents of an area annexed on or after May 26, 1994, may vote in all fire protection district elections and may be elected to the fire protection district board of directors. 3. The fire protection district may approve or reject any proposal for the provision of fire protection and emergency medical services by a city. (L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 7, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571, A.L. 1993 S.B. 256, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1996 S.B. 735, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967) Effective 6-27-00 (2021) Provision for fire protection services in certain annexed areas does not violate the prohibition against special laws, impose a tax on city residents, offend due process, or create an unfunded mandate. City of Crestwood v. Affton Fire Protection District, 620 S.W.3d 618 (Mo.banc).

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.420 Consolidation of multiple municipalities and unincorporated areas, must be ...

72.420. Consolidation of multiple municipalities and unincorporated areas, must be contiguous — procedure, petition content — costs of election — ballot form — effective when — transition committee, how selected, duties. — 1. The provisions of this section shall apply to the consolidation of two or more cities, towns, villages, unincorporated areas, or any combination thereof, in any county with a charter form of government where fifty or more cities, towns and villages have been incorporated. If a boundary commission has been established pursuant to section 72.400 , such proposal shall be submitted to the commission, but if no such commission has been established, consolidation of such areas shall be accomplished pursuant to this section. All municipalities and unincorporated areas which may be consolidated under the procedures established in this section must be contiguous to each other, so that if the consolidation is approved by the voters pursuant to subsections 7 to 9 of this section, there will be one municipality with all parts contiguous to at least one other portion of the new municipality. 2. Whenever a petition for consolidation containing the signatures of at least fifteen percent of the qualified voters of each municipality or unincorporated area, determined on the basis of the number of votes cast for governor at the last gubernatorial election held prior to the filing of the petition, is received by the governing body of the county, the governing body of the county shall submit the question of consolidation to the qualified voters of each municipality and unincorporated area named in the petition at the next state or county primary, general or special election. The petition need not contain signatures of qualified voters of a municipality if the governing body of such municipality adopts an ordinance approving the proposed consolidation which meets the requirements of subsection 5 of this section, and sends a copy of the ordinance to the governing body of the county in conjunction with the petition prescribed by this subsection. 3. A petition for consolidation shall contain the following: (1) The names of the municipalities and a description of any unincorporated area to be consolidated; (2) The proposed effective date of consolidation; (3) The number of votes cast in the last election in each municipality and unincorporated area; and (4) A statement that all signers are registered voters in the affected municipalities or unincorporated areas. The petition may contain the form of government, the name of the municipality as consolidated and the details of transition, such as which officers will serve, which employees shall be retained, what taxes will be collected, what ordinances will be in effect and similar matters for the operation of the consolidated municipality until the new governing body provides otherwise. 4. All persons signing the petition for consolidation shall designate their address opposite their signatures, and such signatures shall be affixed before a person who shall certify, by affidavit acknowledged before a notary public, that such signatures were affixed in his presence. 5. Any ordinance approving a proposed consolidation shall contain the following: (1) The names of the municipalities and a description of any unincorporated area to be consolidated; (2) The proposed effective date of the consolidation; (3) The number of votes cast in the last election in that municipality. The ordinance may contain the form of government, the name of the municipality as consolidated, and the details of transition prescribed in subsection 3 of this section. 6. The costs of an election held under this section shall be assessed proportionately to each municipality; however, when a voting jurisdiction is composed of unincorporated territory or territories, all costs of the election in such voting jurisdictions shall be paid proportionally by each municipality in the proposed consolidation. Proportional election costs paid under this section shall be assessed by charging each municipality the same percentage of the total cost of the election as the number of registered voters of the municipality on the day of the election is to the total number of registered voters on the day of the election, derived by adding together the number of registered voters in each municipality. 7. The question shall be submitted separately, but on the same date, to each municipality and unincorporated area described in the petition or ordinances filed pursuant to subsections 2 to 5 of this section. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form: The consolidation shall only become effective if a separate majority of the votes cast on the proposal in each municipality and unincorporated area affected by such proposal are in favor of the consolidation. If the voters of any municipality or unincorporated area vote against such proposal, the consolidation shall not take effect, even if the voters of all other municipalities and unincorporated areas vote in favor of the proposal. 8. If a consolidation is approved by the voters, such proposal shall be effective six months following the date of the election or the date specified in such proposal, whichever date is later. Immediately following the certification of the election, the governing body of each affected municipality shall select two members and the governing body of the county in which each unincorporated territory is situated shall select two members from each affected unincorporated territory to meet with similar members appointed from other affected municipalities and unincorporated territories in order to determine the details of the transition. 9. If the consolidation is approved, it shall create a new municipality, and the governing body of the county shall declare such municipality, designating in such order the metes and bounds thereof, and henceforth the inhabitants within such bounds shall be a body politic and incorporate, by the name and style of "the city of ______". (L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 8, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.422 Petition to remain unincorporated - unincorporated area proposal, procedure ...

72.422. Petition to remain unincorporated — unincorporated area proposal, procedure for creating established unincorporated areas — no boundary change to affect established unincorporated area prior to expiration. — 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of sections 72.400 to 72.420 to the contrary, residents of an unincorporated area of a county may remain unincorporated and not subject to any boundary change pursuant to sections 72.400 to 72.420 if the following are satisfied: (1) The county petitions the boundary commission; (2) A legal description of the unincorporated area accompanies the petition. If there is a minor error or discrepancy in the legal description of the unincorporated area, the commission, with the concurrence of the county, may make such changes to the proposal as are necessary to rectify the error in the legal description; (3) The unincorporated area either contains a population of not less than two thousand five hundred or is contiguous with an existing established unincorporated area; (4) A plan of intent accompanies the petition addressing the issues to be considered by the commission. 2. When an unincorporated area proposal has been submitted to the commission, the commission shall, within twenty-one days of receipt of such proposal, publish notice of such proposal and the date of the public hearing thereon in at least one newspaper of general circulation qualified to publish legal notices. Within twenty-one days of receipt of such proposal, the commission shall also mail written notification of such proposal and public hearing date to the county clerk, and to the city or village clerk of each neighboring municipality or village, and to any other political subdivision which, in the opinion of the commission, is materially affected by the proposal. The costs of publication and notification shall be borne by the county. The commission shall hold such public hearing concerning the proposal not less than fourteen nor more than sixty days after such publication and notification are complete. At such public hearing, the county and any municipality with an overlapping map plan shall be parties, and any other interested person, corporation, or political subdivision may also present evidence regarding the unincorporated area proposal. An unincorporated area proposal which has been disapproved by the commission and which is resubmitted with changes to the commission shall be subject to the public hearing requirement of this section, unless the commission determines that a public hearing on the resubmitted proposal is not necessary to achieve the objectives of this section. The commission shall issue findings approving or disapproving such proposal within nine months after submittal, except that final action may be deferred on part or all of an unincorporated proposal when necessary to accommodate an overlapping boundary change proposal as more particularly provided in subsection 10 of section 72.405 . The proposal shall be submitted at the next general or special election in accordance with the provisions of chapter 115 . The cost of the election shall be paid by the county. If the proposal is approved by the voters then the area shall be an established unincorporated area and shall remain unincorporated territory for a period of five years from the date of the vote and shall not be subject to any boundary change pursuant to sections 72.400 to 72.420 . 3. In reviewing any proposed unincorporated area proposal, the commission shall approve such proposal if it finds that continued provision of local services to the area by the county will not impose an unreasonable burden on county government and that such designation is in the best interest of the unincorporated territories affected by the proposal and the areas of the county next to such area. In making its determination, the commission shall consider the following factors: (1) The impact, including but not limited to the impact on the tax base or on the ability to raise revenue, of such proposal on: (a) The area subject to the proposed established unincorporated area and its residents; (b) Adjoining areas not involved in the proposed established area and the residents thereof; and (c) The entire geographic area of the county and its residents; (2) A legal description of the unincorporated area; (3) The creation of logical and reasonable municipal boundaries in the county, and for such purpose the commission shall have the ability to make additions, deletions and modifications which address legal boundaries, technical or service delivery problems or boundaries which overlap those of other proposals; however, such additions, deletions and modifications shall not make substantial changes to any proposed unincorporated area proposal; (4) Whether approval of the unincorporated area proposal will result in unreasonable difficulty in provision of services by the county; (5) The effect approval of the established unincorporated area will have on the distribution of tax resources in the county; (6) The compactness of the area subject to such proposal. 4. After approval by the voters of an unincorporated area proposal, no boundary change affecting any part of such area shall be proposed to the commission until expiration of the area's status as an established unincorporated area, but map plans affecting the area may be filed during the planning period pursuant to section 72.423 . If no map plan of a boundary change proposal with respect to an established unincorporated area has been submitted during the most recent planning period pursuant to section 72.423 , the commission shall commence review of the circumstances of such established unincorporated area six months prior to its expiration, and shall submit reauthorization of such unincorporated area to the voters if the commission determines that its circumstances have not materially changed since it was approved. (L. 1998 S.B. 809, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967) Effective 6-27-00

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.423 Five-year planning cycle, procedures, map plans, review.

72.423. Five-year planning cycle, procedures, map plans, review. — 1. In any county in which a boundary commission has been established pursuant to section 72.400 , all boundary changes and unincorporated area proposals shall be subject to the five-year planning cycle mandated in this section. No municipality nor other person shall file, nor shall the commission accept or review, any boundary change or unincorporated area proposal which has not previously been submitted to the commission for map plan review and comment as provided in this section, except that consolidations of municipalities and transfers of jurisdiction pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection 6 of section 72.405 may be sought at any time without prior submission for map plan review and comment as provided in this section. 2. Between January 1, 2000, and July 1, 2000, and between January first and July first of each sixth year thereafter, each municipality, the county, and any citizen group may present general maps of proposed boundary changes and proposed established unincorporated areas to the commission for map plan review. Proposed incorporations and unincorporated areas, if not submitted by the county, shall be submitted by petition of no less than five percent of the registered voters within the proposed area. Boundary change and unincorporated area maps shall not be accompanied by a plan of intent, but shall be depicted with sufficient detail and accuracy to permit review and comment. 3. Between August 1, 2000, and December 31, 2000, and each sixth year thereafter, the commission shall solicit written comments on all boundary change and established unincorporated area map plans and shall hold informational public hearings in or near the affected areas, at which the county, any municipality, or other interested person shall be heard. The commission may encourage negotiation between parties involved in competing map plans. Map plans may be amended by the submitting parties until April fifteenth of the year following map plan submission based on negotiation or based on the hearings or other comments, but no such amendment shall enlarge the boundary change or unincorporated area map plan beyond the area originally submitted, except for minor technical amendments necessary to address boundary issues. 4. The commission may by April first of the year following map plan submission issue written comments regarding each boundary change and unincorporated area map plan to notify proponents of the merits or demerits of such map plan based on planning and public policy considerations. The map plan as submitted or as amended by April fifteenth shall remain on file with the commission, and shall be the limit of permissible boundary changes and unincorporated area proposals as provided in subsection 1 of this section. 5. Proposals shall be submitted to the commission no later than July first of the third year following conclusion of map plan review. Any proposal which has not been approved by the commission by January first of the next review period year as provided in subsection 2 of this section shall expire without further action. (L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82 § 20, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967) Effective 6-27-00

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.430 Standing for proposed boundary change.

72.430. Standing for proposed boundary change. — A county or any other interested municipality or person may bring an action against the commission established pursuant to section 72.400 contesting a proposed boundary change or other commission action. (L. 1999 S.B. 1, et al. § 1)

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=72Fetched: 10/17/2026