By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Several local and state lawmakers are hoping to temper a tax credit bill that targets north St. Louis.
The proposed Distressed Areas Land Assemblage Tax Credit would provide $100 million in aid to developers who bring together more than 100 acres in distressed areas.
Critics say it benefits only one man, developer Paul McKee, Jr., who has bought up more than 500 parcels in north St. Louis.
State Representative Jeanette Mott Oxford says the bill needs changes.
"I want is for that to be improved, so that more than one person can apply for it," Oxford said. "We know of one person who might be assembling 40 or 50 acres of land. It should be open for smaller parcels than that; maybe 20 or 30 acres instead."
But the St. Louis Democrat says she's not sure how much sway the city's representatives will have in Jefferson City.
The "Land Assemblage Tax Credit" is part of a larger tax credit bill Governor Blunt vetoed. Lawmakers will address it again in a special session beginning Monday.
Paul McKee said in a statement that he does not qualify for the credit but said many developers working together could.