Missouri Revised Statutes Title VII. Cities, Towns and Villages § 94.837. Transient guest tax (Canton, LaGrange, Edina, special charter cities)

1. The governing body of any city of the fourth classification with more than two thousand five hundred but fewer than two thousand six hundred inhabitants and located in any county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than ten thousand four hundred but fewer than ten thousand five hundred inhabitants, the governing body of any special charter city, and the governing body of any city of the fourth classification with more than one thousand two hundred but fewer than one thousand three hundred inhabitants and located in any county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than four thousand three hundred but fewer than four thousand four hundred inhabitants may impose a tax on the charges for all sleeping rooms paid by the transient guests of hotels or motels situated in the city or a portion thereof, which shall not be more than five percent per occupied room per night, except that such tax shall not become effective unless the governing body of the city submits to the voters of the city at a state general or primary election a proposal to authorize the governing body of the city to impose a tax under this section. The tax authorized in this section shall be in addition to the charge for the sleeping room and all other taxes imposed by law, and the proceeds of such tax shall be used by the city solely for the promotion of tourism. Such tax shall be stated separately from all other charges and taxes.

2. The ballot of submission for the tax authorized in this section shall be in substantially the following form:

Shall ____________________ (insert the name of the city) impose a tax on the charges for all sleeping rooms paid by the transient guests of hotels and motels situated in __________ (name of city) at a rate of __________ (insert rate of percent) percent for the sole purpose of promoting tourism?

If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the question, then the tax shall become effective on the first day of the second calendar quarter following the calendar quarter in which the election was held. If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are opposed to the question, then the tax authorized by this section shall not become effective unless and until the question is resubmitted under this section to the qualified voters of the city and such question is approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the city voting on the question.

3. As used in this section, “transient guests” means a person or persons who occupy a room or rooms in a hotel or motel for thirty-one days or less during any calendar quarter.