Election on tax to establish and maintain library, procedure — funds, management and disbursement (cities over 600,000)

1. In cities of six hundred thousand inhabitants or over when one hundred voters of the city, or the library board of any free public library heretofore established in the city, petition in writing the mayor and council, or the mayor and board of aldermen, of the city asking that an annual tax be levied for the establishment, maintenance, rehabilitation or extension of a free public library, or for the maintenance, rehabilitation or extension of a free public library theretofore established in the city, and specify in their petition a rate of taxation on all taxable property in the city, the mayor and council, or mayor and board of aldermen, shall submit the question at an election. 2. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form: Shall there be a tax of ______ (insert amount) on each one hundred dollars valuation for a public library? 3. In case the proposed tax is sought as an increased tax for the maintenance, rehabilitation or extension of a library already established, over a lesser tax rate theretofore voted and adopted, then the fact shall be recited in the petition and the notice for the election. 4. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form: Shall there be a tax increase of ______ (insert amount) over the present ______ tax per hundred dollars assessed valuation for the free public library? 5. If a majority of all the votes cast on the question is for the tax submitted, the tax specified in the notice shall be levied and collected in like manner with other general taxes of the city, and the proceeds of such tax shall be known as and become a part of the "City Library Fund", to be administered as provided in section 182.440. 6. The tax shall cease or the tax rate thereof be decreased whenever the voters of the city determine by a majority vote on the question. The tax rate may be increased to but not to exceed the rate or limit as may be hereafter provided by law upon like petition, order of mayor and common council or board of aldermen, notice of election and the purpose thereof, and majority vote in favor of such increase as provided by this section to be made, given, filed and held as in the case of establishing the public library. Nothing contained in this section or done pursuant to its provisions shall be construed to waive or satisfy the duty of the general assembly under Section 10 of Article IX of the Constitution of this State to grant aid to any free public library supported by the city, in such manner and in such amounts as may be provided by law. Any tax rate authorized hereunder may be levied in excess of the rates of taxation authorized by law for general municipal purposes, or for county purposes of the city of St. Louis, pursuant to Section 11 of Article X of the Constitution of this State.