Missouri Judge Rejects Challenge to 97-County Tax Caps

A Cole County judge dismissed a constitutional challenge to Missouri’s property tax caps, ruling that the individuals, school districts, fire district and counties involved lacked standing to sue. The caps were added to legislation tied to a stadium subsidy plan intended to keep the Kansas City Chiefs in Missouri and apply in 97 counties, freezing bills in some and limiting increases to 5% in others. Judge Christopher Limbaugh said the plaintiffs had not shown a direct adverse effect and that local taxing districts had not lost revenue. Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they plan to appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court.