Missouri Revised Statutes Title XI. Education and Libraries § 182.010. County library districts--petition--tax levy--notice--elections--election to increase levy

1. Whenever voters equal to five percent of the total vote cast for governor at the last election in any county, outside of the territory of all cities and towns in the county which at the time of election as hereinafter provided maintain and control free public and tax supported libraries pursuant to other provisions of this chapter, except as provided in section 182.030, shall petition the county governing body in writing, asking that a county library district of the county, outside of the territory of all the aforesaid cities and towns, be established and be known as “․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ County library district”, and asking that an annual tax be levied for the purpose herein specified, and specifying in their petition a rate of taxation, then the county governing body, if it finds the petition was signed by the requisite number of voters and verified in accordance with the provisions of section 126.040, pertaining to initiative petitions, shall enter of record a brief recital of the petition, including a description of the proposed county library district, and of its finding; and shall order that the questions of the petition be submitted to the voters of the proposed county library district. The order of the county governing body and the notice shall specify the name of the county and the rate of taxation mentioned in the petition.

2. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form:

Shall there be established a ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ County library district?

3. In case the boundary limits of any city or town hereinabove mentioned are not the same as the boundary limits of the school district of the city or town, and the school district embraces territory outside the boundary limits of the city or town and within the boundary limits of the proposed county library district, then all voters, otherwise qualified and residing in the school district, but outside the limits of the city or town and within the limits of the proposed county library district, shall be eligible to vote on the proposition, and may cast a vote thereon at the designated polling place within the county. The ballots shall be certified to county governing body as provided in section 179.020.

4. In case the proposed tax is sought as an increased tax for the maintenance of a library already established hereunder, over a lesser tax rate theretofore voted and adopted, then such fact shall be recited in the petition and the notice of the submission of the question.

5. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form:

6. If a majority of all the votes cast on the question are for the tax as submitted, the tax specified in the notice shall be levied and collected in the same manner as other county library taxes as provided in section 182.020, and shall be known as and become a part of the “County Library Fund” to be administered as provided in section 182.020.