Both St Louis Outlet Malls Looking For Tax Breaks

By Jean Whitney - ChersterfieldPatch

 Property owners for St. Louis Premium Outlets petitioned for an additional 1 percent sales tax at the shopping center, in order to back $30 million in financing to build it.

As reported in Chesterfield Patch earlier this year, Chesterfield's City Council agreed to allow Chesterfield Blue Valley LLC to petition for the tax. Chesterfield Patch has requested a copy of the document.

At the other end of the Valley, outlet mall developer T-O Ventures or Taubman, is asking the courts for a 5/8-cent additional sales tax to help pay for roadwork associated with the project.

The Taubman mall development includes adding lanes and a traffic light at the Boones Crossing exit from Highway 40, and building a road to code over existing gravel from North Outer Forty toward the levee trail. The existing path is between Hardee's Iceplex and what would be the mall parking lot. It would lead into the outlets shopping center.

City officials said the Taubman tax hike would be approved through the courts, while the Simon Premium Outlets petition would be at the City Council's discretion.

The finance committee of Chesterfield's city council will review the Simon Outlets petition for the sales tax on Monday, with a public hearing May 7, 6:30 p.m. in City Hall.

The City Council would consider the tax measure the same night at its regular meeting, Monday, May 7, starting at 7 p.m.  A final vote would be May 21 at a regular public city council meeting, City Hall.
Officials pointed out that the city does not issue the $30 million in bonds.